Karlu Karlu - Devil’s Marbles
David Tranter | Australia 2009 | 21 min
On 28 October 2008, the government handed back ownership of Karlu Karlu (Devil’s Marbles) to its traditional owners, after a 28-year campaign.
Karlu Karlu is an area of huge boulders with great spiritual and historical significance, 114km south of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.
As an Elder with responsibility for the land, Lesley Foster tells Dreamtime stories of Karlu Karlu, and recalls how the area used to be a meeting place for many tribes, with many languages, all of whom shared responsibility for the place.
He also reflects on the long campaign to win back ownership of the area from the government, as well as the return of one significant boulder which had been removed to mark the grave of Dr John Flynn, the founder of the Flying Doctor Service. Archival photographs and beautifully filmed landscapes enrich the stories.
His story-telling ends with his thoughts about the importance of teaching the younger generation about their responsibilities as eventual owners of the land.
