THE STORY OF A MAN WHO TURNS INTO A TAIPAN

This traditional story is published in Iwaidja. It includes English translations and comes with a narration on audio CD. Iwaidja is a highly endangered language spoken mainly at Minjilang on Croker Island in northwestern Arnhem Land.

The story is about a young woman who is unhappy about accepting an old man as her promised husband. This makes the old man angry. He has worked hard for his promised wife, providing food and other assistance to her family as she matured into a young woman, and her rejection provokes a terrible revenge.

The story took place in Amurdak-speaking country north of Oenpelli in western Arnhem Land. The version in this book is told in the Iwaidja language by Joy Williams Malwagag, who remembers the story as it was told to her by Paddy Compass Namatbara.

All profit from sales of this book will go to the Iwaidja language team for recording and publishing their endangered cultural knowledge. Your support will help maintain the linguistic and cultural diversity of northwestern Arnhem Land.

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