2021 Indigenous Guernsey Revealed

Norwood will celebrate Pitjantjatjara-Yankunytjatjara culture when it proudly wears its 2021 Indigenous guernsey in this Friday nights SANFL Indigenous Round.

Designed by midfielder Dom Barry’s mother Joanne Ken a Pitjantjatjara-Yankunytjatjara woman, born in 1968 near Mimili community. The guernsey features the Kanpi Rockhole, Kalaya (Emu), ngampu (eggs) for the Kanpi area and Malu (Kangaroo footprints). Joanne Ken is the daughter of Iwana Ken (dec.2014) and Fred Tapatapa (dec.1994).

Iwana (Dom’s Nana) was a Pitjantjatjara woman born in Walytjitjata near the Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia tri-state border. Fred was a Yankunytjatjara man whose Country was Mulya Ulpa near Fugon.

The guernsey is centred around the events that led to Iwana receiving her new Pitjantjatjatjara name which she popularly became to be known as throughout her life.

Barry said it was an honour for his mother to design the guernsey which he describes as a personal reflection of his mother’s connection to culture.

“The design has turned out amazing,” Barry said.

“I am proud of this guernsey for a number of reasons. One angle is how proud I am of my Mum designing the jumper and the other angle is that we get to showcase the story of my Nana.

“My Mum obviously wanted to be involved in a little bit of her son’s football journey with her having an impact right through my journey at the various clubs I have been at.

“It is one of the proudest moments of my life.”

Norwood will wear the Indigenous guernsey in its Round 13 Indigenous Round clash against Sturt at Coopers Stadium.

Only a handful of 2021 Indigenous Guernsey’s will be available for auction, the club will advise the public when the bidding is open, while the club will be selling a limited number of Indigenous designed Polo shirts from the merchandise shop and booth.

STORY:

When my nana, Iwana was around 6 or 7 years old she was swimming in the waterhole near Kanpi with several of her siblings. One of the older ones Brenton (dec.2018) decided it was time to go back home as it was getting dark, however, Iwana wanted one last dip. She got out of the rockhole and started chasing after the siblings by following their footsteps however still being a young kid, she was not experienced at this yet. This resulted in her losing the tracks and so she started yelling out to them however they were too far ahead. She sort of remembers the way back home but was getting scared, so she stayed in the one place. When the siblings returned to the camp, her mum Tjinkuma asked the siblings, “where’s Iwana” and they just thought she was behind following them. This is when they sent out the search party looking for her, led by a fit young Mr Baker, nguraritja (traditional owner) for Kanpi and others and eventually found her in the early hours of the morning some distance from the rockhole. When they found her (Iwana), she was safe but was scared of being alone in the bush. When she returned to the main camp, everyone started calling her Antjakitja. The word Antjaki in Pitjantjatjara means ‘to go on a trip involving camping overnight away from the main camp’. What this design entails is the Kanpi rockhole, Kalaya (emu) ngampu (eggs) for the Kanpi area, and Malu (Kangaroo footprints) for Antjakitja.

*Only a handful of 2021 Indigenous Guernsey’s will be available for auction, the club will advise the public when the bidding is open, while the club will be selling a limited number of Indigenous designed Polo shirts from the merchandise shop and booth.