Namatjirritja Piltharra (abt. 1876 - 1956)

Born about 1876 in Ntalua, Northern Territory, Australia

Husband of Ljukita Mpitjana — married 1901 in Owen Springs

Descendants

Died Mar 1956 at about age 80 in Hermannsburg, Northern Territory, Australia

Biography

Namatjirritja Piltharra is an Indigenous Australian.

Namatjirritja is a name associated with the flying ant totem ^[1]. It would become shortened to Namatjira either through incorrect hearing or transcription, and is kept here as the preferred last name to be consistent with his son Elea having that spelling^[1](p.62/437 pdf) and being so widely known.

Piltharra is the skin name of Namatjirritja^[2] and therefore can be used as a name at birth although both Dr Lynette Riley explain that “From the moment you are conceived, you have your identity”, which is complimented by Arrernte man Warren H Williams' statement “It’s a culture, a skin name you’re actually born with it. You don’t get given it”^[3].

When Namatjirritja was 'baptised' in 1905 at the age of 29, he was given a 'single' name of Jonathon. At the same time his partner, Ljukuta, a Western Arrernte woman born to Erankeraka and mother Kaputatjalka in Palm Valley, was given the name Emilie^[1](p.68/437 pdf).

Namatjirritja met Ljukuta at Ntartia, where the Hermannsburg Mission was located, in 1901. Prior to the mission being established, they would have been unlikely to be coupled, however, as they were of the wrong 'skin', they had to leave the mission to marry. The same fate would later await Namatjirritja's son, Enea, when he met and wished to marry Ilkalita^[1](p.88/437 pdf).

When Jonathon, died in March 1956 he was thought to have been about 80 years old^[1](p.275/437 pdf).

Died 1956 ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Edmond, M (2013) Double Lives: Rex Battarbee & Albert Namatjira by Martin Edmond, Doctoral Thesis, The University of Western Sydney.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} McKenzie, A (n.d.) Albert Namatjira: A Biographical Outline in 'In the Artist's Footsteps'; accessed 11 Dec 2020
3. ↑ https://www.clc.org.au/files/pdf/170112_-_Arrernte_country_singer_Warren_H_Williams_on_skin_names.pdf