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The Gapuwiyak RJCP Buffalo Boys: Detung djämbatj djämamirri yawirrin (really good workers who make buffalo sculpture)

13 October 2014
Community Gapuwiyak
Jobs, Land and Economy
The Buffalo Boys of Gapuwiyak are an RJCP work crew that are learning valuable welding and metalwork skills creating metal sculptures of animals. The sculptures are proving a hit, with customers lining up to buy them.

The Buffalo Boys of Gapuwiyak are an RJCP work crew that are learning valuable welding and metalwork skills creating metal sculptures of animals. The sculptures are proving a hit, with customers lining up to buy them.

They’re known as the ‘Buffalo Boys’, the Remote Jobs and Communities Programme (RJCP) work crew from Gapuwiyak in North East Arnhem Land. Their name is one of pride and comes from the increasingly popular metal sculptures they produce. That and the fact the region is well known for its wild buffalo that are often found roaming the streets in the early morning.

“We started to learn welding and then came a new idea, collect all the old parts from the tip and start doing welding,” Muwuruyun (David) Wunungmurra, one of the eldest Buffalo Boys and a Dalkarra (Yirritja ceremonial leader), said.

“We started making detung (buffalo). You’re learning something new and from the waste you’re making something new; maybe a scorpion, long neck turtle, pig, octopus. We try it. We made a sign at the airport and everybody likes it. We then made that sign on the road (as you drive into the community) too, with a sculpture which lets people know ‘this place has got buffalo’”.

The Gapuwiyak Buffalo Boys sculpture business continues to grow and they are currently taking orders for their works.

Muwuluyun uses his cultural authority to support the younger men in their djäma (work).

“I advise the boys and help so that they are strong in the mind,” Muwuluyun said.

“We work hard and there’s a long track to our future. Yolngu need to get jobs and do things by themselves. That’s why we want to put kids to school and learn. Go to school and get a job.”

Young Buffalo Boy Gurina (Peter) Wanambi is also a key member of the team.

“We do fencing, gardening, cut the grass, and some welding for buffalo sculptures,” Gurina said.

“And we do djäma encouraging boys to work together so we can learn, for Yolngu culture. I’m very proud of our RJCP crew. My family are happy and proud too.”

The Buffalo Boys were a big hit at this year’s Garma Festival, especially the large buffalo sculptures which feature real horns. Their visit to the event wasn’t all RJCP focussed though. At the end of each day a bunggul (ceremony) was held at dusk, and the Buffalo Boys took on their serious roles as Yolngu men, strong in their culture.

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Getting adults into work and making sure everyone has the opportunity to own your own home, run your own business, and provide for yourself and your families will mean a strong future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Working with leaders, communities, individuals and employers to get adults into work is one of the Australian Government’s key Indigenous Affairs priorities.