Warlpiri woman Alice Henwood is an expert tracker from Nyirripi.(ABC Alice Springs: Victoria Ellis)
"Nyiya Nyampuju?" What is this?
The call rings out across the red clay and sand.
The voice belongs to Warlpiri woman Alice Henwood from Nyirripi, a small community about 400 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs.
"Nyiya Nyampuju?" she asks again.
The group of people, spread out like the tufts of spinifex across the land, slowly gather around to look at where she is pointing.
They are quiet.
Alice knows the answer to her question, but right now she is teaching.
Finally, someone speaks up.
"Wardilyka," Bush turkey, he guesses correctly.
The questions continue.
"Ngana-kurlangu?" Whose is it? "Nyarrpara-purda?" Which direction?
A group of people are tested on their tracking knowledge.(ABC Alice Springs: Victoria Ellis)
Over and over she asks the group with each new set of tracks that are found.
There are many of the puluku, cow.
There's also the ngaya, cat, the puwujuma, fox, the warnapari, dingo and excitingly, the endangered walpajirri, bilby.
Full story here: Warlpiri preserve language, culture through animal tracking program for next generation – ABC News
