Peter is a respected tjilpi (senior old man) within the Indulkana community, a board member for the Yankunytjatjara Native Title Act, and a contemporary artist working at the Iwantja Art Centre. Now retired from a lifetime career as a stockman, he works daily at the art centre, painting from memory the stories of his family and vivid imagery of the sovereign country he’s spent a lifetime with.
Peter was born in the bush near Granite Downs, living a traditional life with his parents, three brothers and many sisters. During his early childhood the cattle stations at Mimili and Granite Downs were established, and as a young man he worked for the small Mimili community; watering the trees and establishing the bush garden.
“I was born in the bush, my mum and father, they naked – we have no clothes, traditional way. When I was a little boy, I liked to go hunting the malu (kangaroo) with my brothers... When I was sleeping some fella came with cattle for branding; he was the first white people we see down in Mimili, he was a nice fella, I remember his horses.”
Peter never attended school; instead learning about the land and his culture from his parents and family, as a young man Peter gained riding skills and invaluable life experience that culminated in him becoming a highly skilled horseman, allowing Peter to forge a career for himself as a proficient stockman.
Alongside a complex understanding of horsemanship, Peter also has an expansive knowledge of the vast APY (Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) lands, and the cultural history of his people. He has travelled by horseback between Mimili and Oodnadatta, Kenmore Park and Finke, mustering cattle for weeks on end.
“We were working together, we go everywhere; Mimili, Kenmore Park, Granite Downs, all over the place, every station, that was in the mission days. We were always riding around, laughing at other blokes, we had a good time. We didn’t worry about other things, we just ride around working hard and have good time.”
The current chair person for Indulkana and a director at Iwantja Arts, Peter is still passionately involved within the community, determined that the young people learn and remember the importance of their country and encourages preservation of the environment of traditional lands. He participates in cultural education projects including trips into country, men’s business and special ceremonies.
Peter is a respected tjilpi (senior old man) within the Indulkana community, a board member for the Yankunytjatjara Native Title Act, and a contemporary artist working at the Iwantja Art Centre. Now retired from a lifetime career as a stockman, he works daily at the art centre, painting from memory the stories of his family and vivid imagery of the sovereign country he’s spent a lifetime with.
Peter was born in the bush near Granite Downs, living a traditional life with his parents, three brothers and many sisters. During his early childhood the cattle stations at Mimili and Granite Downs were established, and as a young man he worked for the small Mimili community; watering the trees and establishing the bush garden.
“I was born in the bush, my mum and father, they naked – we have no clothes, traditional way. When I was a little boy, I liked to go hunting the malu (kangaroo) with my brothers... When I was sleeping some fella came with cattle for branding; he was the first white people we see down in Mimili, he was a nice fella, I remember his horses.”
Peter never attended school; instead learning about the land and his culture from his parents and family, as a young man Peter gained riding skills and invaluable life experience that culminated in him becoming a highly skilled horseman, allowing Peter to forge a career for himself as a proficient stockman.
Alongside a complex understanding of horsemanship, Peter also has an expansive knowledge of the vast APY (Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) lands, and the cultural history of his people. He has travelled by horseback between Mimili and Oodnadatta, Kenmore Park and Finke, mustering cattle for weeks on end.
“We were working together, we go everywhere; Mimili, Kenmore Park, Granite Downs, all over the place, every station, that was in the mission days. We were always riding around, laughing at other blokes, we had a good time. We didn’t worry about other things, we just ride around working hard and have good time.”
The current chair person for Indulkana and a director at Iwantja Arts, Peter is still passionately involved within the community, determined that the young people learn and remember the importance of their country and encourages preservation of the environment of traditional lands. He participates in cultural education projects including trips into country, men’s business and special ceremonies.