Iron Range Danger Gang - 'Puuya Kuntha' (Strong Heart)

Desert Pea Media is very proud to announce a new collaboration with the Kuku Ya'u community in remote Lockhart River on the East Coast of Cape York in Far Northern Queensland.
This production, along with two short films were created over 14 days in August 2019 - an outcome of of a unique, collaborative creative process with Desert Pea Media artists, local Indigenous young people, community members, Elders, and local health services.
The overall purpose of the project was to facilitate an important, inter-generational conversation about social and emotional well-being for Indigenous young people in 5 communities around FNQ (Kuranda, Bowen, Palm Island, Thursday Island & Lockhart River). The project is called 'Break It Down - Community Conversations Around Well-being' - funded by North Queensland Primary Health Network.
Desert Pea Media projects involve a dialogue-based storytelling process that encourages participants to analyse 'the real', 'the ideal' and 'the bridge'. In simple terms this means being 'fair dinkum' and 'not gammon' and critically thinking about how to create positive change for yourself, for each other and for our communities :)
The connections created during this project with the community, the young people and Father Brian Claudie are friendships that the DPM team highly value and respect, and we feel honored to learn, share and create with the Lockhart River Kuku Ya'u community. These projects not only uplift and inspire audiences and community members, but everybody involved.
'Puuya Kuntha' was produced by acclaimed Music Producer Carlo Santone (Blue King Brown/Nattali Rize). We thank you brother for your artistic vision and awesome work.
Special thanks to Father Brian Claudie, Steve and Karen Mills, Paddy Hobson and staff at Lockhart River School for all of your incredible support, and staff at The Greenhoose for making us feel so welcome.
Iron Range Danger Gang are Paddy Hobson, Edwin Pascoe, Ebony Butcher, Shauretta Claudie, Esther Hobson, Ricardo O’Brien, Ross Omenyo, Noongi Taviliniu-Valu Pittard, Kaden Warradoo, Shenika Butcher, Lilita Giblet, Shauna Hobson, Shaznae Kennell, Alinah Macumboy, Erin Accoom, Montaya Bosuen, Fifi O’Brien.
CREDITS
Toby Finlayson - Project Director/Co-Writer/Co-Facilitator/DOP Coedie McCarthy - Co-Writer/Co-Facilitator Carlo Santone - Music Producer Daniel Glossop - Sound Engineer/ Co-Facilitator Grace Newell - Production Coordinator/Photographer Roy Weiland - Editor/Graphics/Grading David Nicholas - Audio Mixing Darren Ziesing - Audio Mastering Ash Camm - Business Manager Belle Arnold - Project Manager
LYRICS
Lockhart is our Ngaachi (home) - It’s our homeland country
We them east coast Murris - We all have the courage
Carry heaps of knowledge - We got plenty swimmin’ holes
And waterfalls and our beaches gold
Land is beautiful, it’s colourful, like the water glow, that nyakamu (phosphorescence)
Mepla from Iron Range where the rainforest meets the sea
My totem Upan Yawan Muthuuy, pulu, piwu, iwayii
Kanthanampoo, kuku yawu, (aye) Umpila, Wutathi
Kaanju Utha Langu, mepla danger for Malkarri (traditional dance)
(CEREMONY SONG - PINNIWINKLE DANCE)
We go fishing, swimming, hunting, catching ream, barra, mullet
Turtle dugong lubbly, we go walkabout in the sunshine
Tukulu (turtle) on the reef, we go flipping in river and creek
We cut laps we pump em beats from malkara to Ilway streets
HOOK
Mipla deadly, mipla smart
Mipla puuya (heart) kuntha (strong) AH
Strong heart yawai (that’s right) cuss
Mipla had it from the start
Mipla deadly mipla strong
Mipla culture living long
Mipla proud when singin’ our songs
Mipla know where we belong
Poison damper along the coastline laka, truth will set you free
My people live with trauma every day like cyclone on repeat
Old man Wu’u (sick) mana laka our time is running low
Gotta learn ‘em song and shake-a-leg, so my culture can grow
Less phone reception - more connection
Gotta come together we gotta learn em lesson
That’s out medicine, for them in depression
Family gives us strength sand protection
Gotta watch yathu (children) stop getting arrested
Leave a good impression on our mob and section
So one day you may get selected
For something better, live a life of perfection
Wepla Danger Malkarri (traditional dance)
Kai Kai (food) Kup murri (traditional ground oven),
Ngachi (home) Mukamukana (many people come)
Watchi wutathi, Nundah, Kuttini, Angkuna, Pin Pin, Packers (place names)
Pama Mukamukana kalmana (many people come)
Wulpunyu Mukamukana Kalmana (many children come)
I be look all dempla (them people) walkabout
Miiye wiiyke lake (get food from this place) Ahhh…