Join Kapululangus 500 X $500 Club

WELCOME ... YANAMA

Yanama Kapululangu Tutjuku Tjilimikutu
Welcome to the Kapululangu Women's Law and Culture Centre.

THEIR STRUGGLE

In 1999 some elder women of Balgo, a remote Aboriginal community in Western Australias Great Sandy Desert, joined together to form the Kapululangu Aboriginal Womens Association (KAWA).

The elders began Kapululangu by living together on the Women's Law Ground in Balgo. They lived in a one room tin shed - for two years. (Later they built two houses).

By coming together in this way they formed the Kapululangu Womens Law and Culture Centre which has today become   

-one of Australia's most remote women's centres
-the only women's centre in the Kutjungka region of the south-east  
   Kimberley
-a core provider of Law and Culture activities and events in the
   Kimberley 
-a key provider of ceremonial and cultural opportunities for non-local
   Indigenous and Settler Australians.

The Kapululangu Women's Law and Culture Centre celebrated its 10th Birthday in August 2009. It continues to support Balgo women elders and middle-generation women to raise their young women and children "Strong for Law, Strong for Culture".

Running a dynamic inter-generational cultural knowledge program the elders are fostering resilient, strong young people who have pride in their Aboriginality, positive self-esteem, and a collective belief in themselves as a generation capable of leading their people into the future.

As one woman elder said:

"Long as we got old people, we can tell those kids culture. Take them to the place of the Tjukurrpa. They can dance, with all the old people. So they can know Dreamtime culture. They gotta know singing for every soak-water, every place. They gotta know the Dreamtime."

Kapululangu was established on 12 April 1999 and incorporated on 3 August 1999. But it traces its history back to 1983 when a series of Womens Law Camps were held in the east Kimberley. 
 
These camps developed into the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Cultures Desert Women's Project (DWR) in 1986. DWR was so successful that it was incorporated as the Manungka Manungka Women's Association in 1990. Manungka Manungka ran until December 1993.

The women elders of Balgo had no support until September 1998 when they decided to re-establish their womens organisation. They called on an old friend, Dr Zohl de Ishtar, who was to become Kapululangus founding-coordinator. 

On 12 April 1999 Balgo women elders, with the support of their coordinator, set up the Kapululangu Aboriginal Women's Association. It became an Aboriginal Corporation on 3 August 1999.

At that stage the women elders had no resources other than their sheer determination and their vision of what cultural services they felt their community should be provided. They wanted their young people to grow up strong and resilient, secure in their peoples' Law and Culture knowledge, so that they could better cope with the changing world.  

It has been a difficult journey, but Kapululangu celebrated its 10th birthday in August 2009. It held a series of characteristic Law and Culture celebrations, which included a Dreaming Track Trip for Aboriginal women and men from across the Kimberley, and a Women's Law Camp for Indigenous and non-Indigenous women from across Australia.

The Kapululangu Elders and Directors now have three staff and a growing network of supporters and sponsors.

Kapululangu elders are inviting individuals, organisations and corporations to join its 500 X $500 Club. The 500 X $500 Club works by 500 people, corporations or organisations pledging to donate $500 (or more) per year to Kapululangu and to keep up their donations for as long as they can. Pledges are not binding. Contributions toward the full annual amount can be made yearly, quarterly or monthly.

All donors will receive Kapululangu quarterly newsletter and a Club membership certificate to display to show your support for Kapululangu and Aboriginal Australia. In addition corporations and organisations will be added to our list of sponsors and named in our newsletter, annual report and website (for that year). (Individuals may elect to be listed also.)

Kapululangu is a Deductible Gift Recipient. This means that all donations $2 and over are tax deductible.

To join the 500 X $500 Club all you have to do is arrange a regular electronic payment to:

Kapululangu Aboriginal Womens Association
Commonwealth Bank
Kununurra Branch
BSB: 066 530
Account: 10107707

Please put your name on the donation and send an email with your full contact details and the date and amount of your donation to admin@kapululangu.org

All Donations Are Welcome

If you can't afford $500 at this time, you can assist Kapululangu. Follow the example of the residents of Maleny (Qld) who are organising for all of their friends to make monthly deposits of $10 or as much as they can afford into Kapululangu bank account. These small gifts are really adding up making a sizeable contribution to Kapululangu. This proves that all support counts!

You can make a direct donation or arrange a regular payment to:

Kapululangu Aboriginal Women's Association
Commonwealth Bank
Kununurra Branch
BSB: 066 530
Account: 10107707

Or Send a Cheque

Because the bank is 900 km away from Balgo they prefer direct deposit into the bank account. But if you need or prefer to send a cheque please make it out to:

Kapululangu Aboriginal Womens Association and send it to this address:

Kapululangu Aboriginal Womens Association
Private Mail Bag 116 Balgo
via Halls Creek
Western Australia 6770
Australia

You Might Form a Support Group

Are you a concerned Australian who is keen to make a contribution towards Closing the Gap between Indigenous and Settler Australians? One good way of doing this is to assist the Kapululangu elders. You can help Kapululangu by raising awareness and funds in your local community. Kapululangu invites interested individuals and groups to registering with us as a supporter. You don't need to set yourself up as a group - you just need to be supportive. Or you might be a group already. Support Groups can hold events and do fundraising for Kapululangu. In Maleny (Qld) women and men have gathered together on a weekly basis to knit beanies and make dancing skirts for the elders, and to even run exciting fundraises (such as an auction at their local market).

If you are interested in forming a support group, please contact Kapululangu for more information and a registration form: admin@kapululangu.org

You might like to Volunteer Your Time and Skills 

Kapululangu is seeking volunteers with skills and attitude. Kapululangu invites women who are interested in spend a month living with the elders at the Kapululangu Womens Law House in Balgo to apply to be a volunteer with us. Are looking for women to assist with specific roles (e.g. administration and grant writing). Are also interested in receiving proposals about special projects women might like to run with Kapululangu. We're also keen to hear from women and men who want to stay home while volunteering their time and skills to Kapululangu. Some of the core members of our team are volunteers who live in their own homes in the cities. Through our partnership with Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV) we are able to offer assistance with travel, accommodation and a small subsidy to selected applicants.

Please contact Kapululangu for information and an application form: admin@kapululangu.org

CONTACT

Kapululangu Aboriginal Women's Association

Private Mail Bag 116 Balgo
via Halls Creek
Western Australia 6770
Australia

T & F: 61 (0)8 9168 8848
E: admin@kapululangu.org