Yama Karra Paay? When is it Going to Rain? The Regrowth and Renewal of Old Ngiyampaa and Wiradjuri Songs to Empower the Cultural Identity of Ngiyampaa and Wiradjuri People of New South Wales Today

Abstract

Songs of the Ngiyampaa and Wiradjuri people were recorded and stored in archives, locked away from our communities for decades. With the surge of cultural revitalization activity across New South Wales in Australia, the repatriation and analysis of Ngiyampaa and Wiradjuri songs comes with perfect timing. The archived songs are enriching the revitalization process and our song knowledge is being actively passed on through our old people on the recordings. The songs were taken from us as if they were sleeping far away in the clouds, but now Ngiyampaa and Wiradjuri people are making that cloud rain.