Aboriginal name Wurlumbulnga
Moiety Yirritja
Skin name Godjok
Language Dalabon, Kriol, English
Totem Rufous Wallaby (wurlala)
Manuel Pamkal was born around 1963, there is no official record of his date of birth. His driver’s license says he was born on the 05/07/1963 as they needed a date, and his passport reads 00/00/1966. Manuel does know that he was born at Banatjarl, near King River southeast of Katherine. This is where he spent most of his early childhood. When he was approximately 13, he and his family moved to Eva Valley for a year, before relocating to Bamyili (Barunga), where they settled and Manuel attended school for only one day; the reason being that Manuel was told by his cousin that to stay in school, he would have to speak English. Manuel felt ashamed as he could not speak any, so he went out bush and never attended school again.
Manuel learnt to speak English when he started work at the Barunga school as a grounds man when he was about 25, teaching the white workers his language in exchange.
When he was around 15, his father taught him the traditional way to do bark painting, teaching him how to harvest and burn the stringy bark, how to straighten it with cross sticks and how to make it ready for painting. He also taught him how to find and use traditional pigment from the bush; white clay (bam); red ochre (mariner); yellow ochre (glide), and black charcoal (jardij). Manuel’s father also used to tell him dreamtime stories about what happened a long time ago when all the animals were human.
Nowadays Manuel is telling these same stories to his sons and nephews because he believes strongly that the culture must be kept alive and passed on to the next generations. He also is teaching the young people traditional painting techniques, just as his father once taught him.
Manuel has been painting for approximately 45 years, working on didgeridoos, bark paintings and canvas, using both traditional pigments and acrylics. He has sold numerous paintings through the Art Centre at Manyallaluk to tourists and visitors from all over the world. His work is in high demand and he frequently gets commissioned for special pieces.
Manuel has entered paintings in several regional art shows and won the first prize at the Barunga festival Art Exhibition in 1986 and 1988. In 2000, his painting was accepted as an entry in the Telstra National ATSI Art Award in Darwin. This painting was recognized with an honorable mention and sold to a buyer from Melbourne. In 2001 he sold a large canvas to the Gallery of Aboriginal Artists of Australia in Newcastle, NSW.
Manuel worked for 10 years as a senior tour guide at Manyallaluk along with his wife Jessica who is well known for her basket weaving. Manuel has served frequently on the Manyallaluk Community Council and has had several terms as president.
After participating in the cultural experience at Top Didj & Art Gallery, the manager of the Kyoto Royal Hotel & Spa invited Manuel and Adrianna (an Indigenous artist from Yuendumu), to put on a workshop in Japan as part of “Australia Month” in October 2010. Manuel had a wonderful time sharing his culture and learning about the Japanese way of life. Manuel and Adrianna were successful in the Brolga Tourism awards taking out the Indigenous Tourism Award for 2010.
In 2011 Manuel received an award for his contribution to the Tourism Industry for his excellent work as head guide at Top Didj Cultural Experience. In 2013 Manuel won a Brolga Award from Tourism NT for Outstanding Interpretive Guide. Manuel has also had numerous appearances on television, including Australian Story and The Today Show.
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