Title: Kutanya – Family Song
Artist: Nancy Bates
Language: Barkindji and English
Lyrics
V.1) Kantya you raised me up,
and you gave love,
And you gave me hope.
Watching me from high above
V.2) Nguulka you held my hand,
and we walked this land,
to make a stand.
Watching me from high above
Ch.) Kutanya Muurpaa,
Kantya Nguulka Ngamaka Kampitya,
Ngamaka Kampitya.
V.3) Ngamaka you’re my everything,
the song that I sing
For you gave me wings,
Watching me with all your love. _
V.4) Kampitya I have your eyes, you told me no lies,
Pick me up when I cry,
Watching me with all your love.
(Chorus)
Song Background
I didn’t grow up learning much of my language at all because my Dad wasn’t taught to speak his language, nor my grandparents. Under assimilations laws, policies and practices, our languages were reduced significantly.
My Dad grew up in Wilcannia, it’s a deadly little place, and I just love being invited to go back there to write songs with the kids in my language, because the kids are being taught in school now, and across the community. Music is a perfect way to learn language. This song captures some of our relationship names.
I have been out a few times now at Wilcannia, and Menindee (Kinchega) to help write songs, and learn language with Elders, speakers, and children. This song helps me to remember family more deeply.
Bio
Nancy Bates is a First Nations composer, curator, educator, and proudly Barkindji. With cultural ties to communities running the length of the Baarka (Darling River), she is freshwater woman living a multifaceted life, intertwining music, education, and advocacy to resist the colonial continuum. From 2013 to 2017, Nancy completed a musical apprenticeship under the mentorship of renowned Song Man, Uncle Archie Roach. With exceptional contributions to the music industry, Nancy has been honoured as an APRA Ambassador and been awarded several other accolades in the South Australian Art scene.
Nancy has extensive experience in facilitating Cultural Safety/ Indigenous Health topics at a primary, secondary and tertiary level. She advocates for access and inclusion rights of First Nations People with disability, and in 2023, supported mob to tell their stories of Abuse Neglect and Exploitation to the Disability Royal Commission.
Through the ‘Songs Inside’ film project, Nancy taught ukulele and songwriting to women in prison, giving them voice, and freedom of expression within a colonial punishment system, which won the Adelaide Film Festival People’s Choice Award in 2024, with an attached 2-year Social Impact Campaign to accompany the release. Nancy curated the Blak Country Showcase in partnership with the Adelaide Guitar Festival debuting in 2024 with the vision of this becoming an international cultural exchange and showcase of Indigenous Country Music.