Kapululangu Women’s Law and Culture Centre was established by Balgo women elders to assist them in fulfilling their obligations as Senior Law Women (ceremonial bosses), Healers, Providers and Protectors for their families.
Kapululangu’s elders are among the last Aboriginal Australians
to have been born in the desert before
the arrival of Kartiya/non-Indigenous people in their
ancestral countries. They are custodians of an immense wealth of stories, skills and information about how to live well with each other and with the desert.
Kapululangu is governed by a board of 12 Elders and Directors. There are two Chairwomen positions which are reserved for the elders. Any local adult Aboriginal female who has a relationship to family and the Country of Balgo may be a member of Kapululangu.
Kapululangu has three staff – a coordinator, an administrator/women’s cultural worker and a project-officer/men’s culture worker.
Our founding and current coordinator, Dr Zohl dé Ishtar has been involved with Balgo elders since 1993, lived with the elders in 1999 through 2001 and again since 2005. She has worked with Indigenous Australian and Pacific women and their communities since 1979. She was nominated to the Nobel Peace Prize 2005 in recognition of her world renowned work.
Kapululangu is an Aboriginal Corporation with Benevolent Institution and Deductible Gift Recipient status.
Kapululangu's Cultural Programs
Tjilimi – Women’s Law and Culture Centre – Learning House for Women
Yawulyu Women’s Ceremonies
Tjarrtjurra Women’s Healing Rituals
Community Corroboree
Cultural Apprenticeships to Elders for Middle-Generation women
Cultural Classes for children
Cultural Trips and Camps for children
Trips to Country, Hunting and Bush-foods gathering
Bush medicines
Young Women’s Sleepover
Kukatja Language and Cultural Awareness Classes for non-Indigenous
Dreaming Track Trips and Ceremonies
Annual Law Time Ceremonies
Young Women’s Culture Camps
Cultural Education Curriculum - Cultural Learning for external Indigenous and Non-Indigenous women
Regional, national, international cultural tours
Support for male elders working with young men and older boys.
Kapululangu's Facilities
Women’s Law House on Balgo Women's Law Ground
Kapululangu House - Office, Meeting room and Staff Residence
Women's Culture Shed
Tjarrtjurra Women's Healing Centre
Ceremonial Ritual Space
Keeping Place for Tarruku (sacred items)
Kapululangu Governance: Two Way Governance •The Way of the Walawalara.The Kapululangu Board of Elders and Directors follow their own Indigenous governance Law handed to them by their Ancestors, and at the same time abide by the Australian law for Indigenous Corporations.
Kapululangu’s commitment to operate by Two-Way governance results in the Kapululangu Board operating as Marlpa Tutju— a Circle of Women Companions amongst whom are the Nintipuka Tutju—the Women Custodians of Knowledge. These are the elders who initiated Kapululangu’s and are its Law leaders. Together these women represent the Walytja Tutju, the Family of Women: all the members of Kapululangu. They live and reside within the Balgo’s wider Circle of Community. All of these Indigenous women who govern, direct, oversee, guide, run, teach, heal, protect and participate in Kapululangu are assisted by Tilitja, Culture Workers, their staff
