Kalkatungu Country

Cungelella Arts' homeland of the Kalkatungu country carries significance to the Kalkadoon People of Mount Isa. The culture, history & background of the Kalkatungu tribe is important to acknowledge when understanding Cungellela's commissioned artworks with Infamous Swim. 

Image: Cungelella Art & Family Wearing Kuu Karlaa in collaboration with Infamous Swim 

Since a young age, Cungelella Art has been surrounded by artists and creatives. Cungelella Art honors the legacy of culture passed down from generation to generation in the Kalkatungu tribe by emulating the teachings of aunties and uncles who taught Jaunita, Dale, Cheryl, and Glenda about carvings, paintings, and different artifacts of Kalkatungu country. 

The Kalkatungu tribe, and Kalkadoon People from past, present, and future must be understood when celebrating Cungelella Arts commissioned pieces.  

Mount Isa, where the Kalkadoon Tribe lives, is ruled by Emu Foot Province, where they have lived for 40,000 years. Kalkadoon, also known as Kalkatungu, Kalkatunga, or Kalkadungu, share the lineage of their predecessor tribe ‘the Elite of Aboriginal warriors of Queensland’, who were eliminated by settlers and police in 1884 at Battle Hill, Queensland. 

Art in the Kalkatungu & Cungelella Art

Art is important to indigenous peoples and is fundamental to the culture and history of first nations peoples. There are 250 indigenous nations in Australia, each with their  own unique customs, traditions and history; each nation has a different art style from the next. 

The Kalkadoon Tribe mark their territory boundaries with Emu and Crane Foot, becoming a symbolised image significant to the Kalkadoon peoples. These symbols were painted into rocks and trees to signal a boundary to other tribes.

Want to find out more here about Kalkatungu Country & the country you live on? View these resources: 

https://www.kalkadoonpbc.com.au  

https://www.kalkadoonpbc.com.au/about-us/who-we-are

https://www.mountisa.qld.gov.au/city-and-council/welcome-to-mount-isa 

https://www.blakbusiness.com.au/what-country-am-i-on