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How the Birds Got Their Colours
Title:
How the Birds Got Their Colours
NFSA ID
555377
Year
1983
Warnings
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following program may contain images and/or audio of deceased persons
This Aboriginal Dreamtime story reveals how birds got their brilliant colours. Told by Mary Albert of the Bardi language group in Western Australia and vividly narrated by actress Justine Saunders, it follows a parrot who helps an injured dove – sparking a magical burst of colour across every bird… except the crow. The animation by Pamela Lofts draws on artwork by children from St Mary’s School, Broome, giving it cross-generational appeal. How the Birds Got Their Colours is visually striking and culturally significant for its role in celebrating and preserving Dreamtime stories.
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.