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 Women’s Law Camps were held in the east Kimberley. These camps developed into the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture’s 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 women’s organisation. They called on an old friend, Zohl dé Ishtar, who was to become Kapululangu’s 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.
