Kamalyarrpa Japanangka ('Bullfrog') and the coniston massacre

RESISTANCECASE STUDY4Kamalyarrpa Japanangka(‘Bullfrog’) and theconiston massacreHere is a selection of the evidence and information in theNational Museum of Australia’s new Resistance exhibit.1 Provide a heading for each source. For example, sourceA might be: Kamalyarrpa Japanangka (‘Bullfrog’)2 Re-organise the sources into a sequence that tellsthe story of this man and his resistance. You mightphysically cut them out and re-arrange them, or youmight number them in order, from 1 to 13.3 Complete the table on page 3.4 In approximately 100 words complete a summaryof what this case study tells you about one typeof resistance to the foreign invasion that existedamong Indigenous Australians.5 To compare your ideas to the NMA display andto fi nd out more about this person go to the website:www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/now_showing/first_australians/resistance/index.html.C Brooks’s killer was a Warlpiri man,Kamalyarrpa Japanangka (‘Bullfrog’).Bullfrog’s granddaughter, Rosie Nungurrayi,said in 1975, ‘At Yurrkuru my grandfatherkilled a whitefella. He hit the whitefellabecause the whitefella stole his wife’. InWarlpiri society breaches of marriage lawwere considered capital crimes.D The Coniston Massacre took place overa wide area of central Australia. Here reddots are places where killings occurred, asidentifi ed in the 1928 Board of Enquiry. Bluedots are places where Aboriginal peoplehave identifi ed that other killings occurred.A Kamalyarrpa (Bullfrog) was never caught ortried for Brooks’s murder. Three years later,anthropologists working in the area metKamalyarrpa. They photographedhim and collectedhis spearthrower,without knowingof his involvementin Brooks’s killing.B The blacks saw me coming and threw acouple of spears at me. I jumped off myhorse and fi red four or fi ve shots with myrifl e. I do not know whether I hit them or not.I certainly tried.Jack Saxby, 1928 Board of Enquiry10 © National Museum of Australia and Ryebuck Media 2008

E In August 2003, a commemoration was held to markthe 75th anniversary of the Coniston Massacre. Theevent was attended by Aboriginal people (survivorsand their families), representatives of the NorthernTerritory Police and descendants of ConstableGeorge Murray, who led the reprisal party.H Jack Saxby, friend of Fred Brooksand member of the reprisalparty, just before the ConistonMassacre 1928.F 2003 Memorial.IChert fl akes from Kanti, aWarlpiri ri stone knifequarry.JKamalyarrpa’sspearthrower1931.M Yuendumu women dancingaround monument, 75thanniversary of ConistonMassacre 2003.KHookedboomerang.G In 1977, Alec Jupurrurla, rurla,who was living nearbyat the time of Brooks’smurder, recalled the event:‘One boomerang he put rightthrough here [indicating throat]and ... he cuttem with stoneknife. Finish’.L Lee Enfi eld short magazineMk III .303 rifl e of typeadopted in 1928 by CentralAustralian police 1920.When you have re-arrangedthe information and worked outthe story, complete the tableon page 3 for KamalyarrpaJapanangka.© National Museum of Australia and Ryebuck Media 200811