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Smoking the Baby: Smoking
Title:
Smoking the Baby: Smoking
Year
2001
Warnings
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following program may contain images and/or audio of deceased persons
The older women tell us the story of the smoking ritual, and how it is no longer practiced as much as it should be. Footage of women preparing the site for smoking, and of a baby being smoked. Summary by Romaine Moreton.
The older women attribute the ill health of mothers and babies to the discontinuation of the smoking ritual. The smoking ritual is used to make the baby and the mother strong, and it is the absence of this ritual that they believe sees the increase of European disease in their community.
Smoking the Baby synopsis
An observational documentary about the cultural ritual of smoking the baby to ensure their health and well-being.
Smoking the Baby is part of the Nganampa Anwernekenhe series produced by Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) Productions. Nganampa Anwernekenhe means 'ours’ in the Pitjantjatjara and Arrernte lanuages, and the series aims to contribute to the preservation of Indigenous languages and cultures.
Smoking the Baby curator's notes
Elders sitting at Five Mile, south-east of Seven Mile, tell us how the old people used to smoke the babies. The ritual of smoking the baby is one of purification.
Notes by Romaine Moreton
Production company
CAAMA Productions
Executive Producer
Priscilla Collins (AKA Cilla Collins)
Director
Dena Curtis
Acknowledgements
Papula Apparr-kari Aboriginal Corporation
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.