
Ricco sits amongst a group of children roughly the same age as himself. They are learning about maps of the world, as well as Warlpiri. Summary by Romaine Moreton.
An interesting moment in the film where the immediate world of Ricco is suddenly broken open, and the audience is introduced to the concept that the remote world of Ricco is not perceived as being conceptually limited by Ricco himself, who tells us he is going to go to Mexico.
An observational documentary about Ricco Japaljarri Martin, an eight-year-old boy who lives in Hidden Valley with his foster mother.
Wirriya, Small Boy 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.
A sensitive documentary that is narrated predominantly by Ricco himself, and is an example of a respectful treatment of the Indigenous subject. Beck Cole is a respected Indigenous filmmaker, and her experience allows for a poignant invitation into Ricco’s world, his childish perspective kept intact by Cole’s skilful handling of the story. We are present to Ricco’s emergent conceptual world, where the perceived geographical remoteness of his homeland is pushed up alongside the larger world; one where travel to distant places and foreign lands is all part of Ricco’s everyday life and experience.
Beck Cole puts a face to what would otherwise be an unknown statistic of an Aboriginal foster child. Instead, we are privileged to learn of Ricco’s dreams and aspirations, and a child who at this moment, still looks towards a future. Beck Cole’s other productions include Plains Empty (2004) and Flat (2002).
Notes by Romaine Moreton
This clip shows 7-year-old Ricco Japaljarri Martin and his classmates at an Indigenous Australian community school near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Ricco and his classmates are shown singing a song together and Ricco says that he 'loves to learn’. Ricco is shown with a book learning about Mexico and Nigeria. He asserts that he is going to Mexico and in a later sequence stands in front of a world map and identifies Mexico. In Warlpiri language class, Ricco introduces his Warlpiri teacher and clarifies that his skin name is Japaljarri. The clip includes English subtitles.
Education notes provided by The Learning Federation and Education Services Australia
Ricco and his classmates at an Indigenous Australian community school near Alice Springs file into the classroom.
Teacher Everybody blowing your noses now. One nostril. The other one. Good. Charlie, I can’t hear you.
The children jump up and down, clapping.
Children Three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!
The children are now seated on the floor.
Teacher OK? No, no, no.
Ricco We can sing out very loud now.
Teacher OK, ready, do it again now.
Children Two little dickey birds. Come back, Peter, come back, Paul.
Teacher They come back?
Ricco Yeah!
Teacher One more time?
Children Yeah!
Teacher Ready?
Children (singing with teacher) Two little dickey birds sitting on a wall. One named Peter, one named Paul. Fly away, Peter. Fly away, Paul.
Ricco and another boy sit on the floor looking at a book.
Ricco (voice-over, with English subtitles) I like to learn. (to boy) You can’t get here with boat.
Boy That’s you, hey?
Ricco Look there. (voice-over) We learn about Mexico and Nigeria. (to boy) I’m going Mexico, right here, look.
Boy Ricco. Look. Look! Oh, all the ruins!
Ricco walks over to camera with his book.
Ricco You see, that’s my passport.
Filmmaker What’s that?
Ricco Passport. We’ve been past Nigeria here, look. We’ve been past this. And we do things, look.
Ricco stands in front of a world map.
Filmmaker Where have you been in your passport? Show me.
Ricco Here. (points) Mexico.
Filmmaker And where do you live all the time?
Ricco Here. (points to middle of Australia)
Filmmaker Where?
Ricco Here. (points again)
Filmmaker Where’s that?
Ricco Here, right here.
Ricco is walking outside. He walks over to a door and one of the other boys tries to stop him from entering.
Ricco (voice-over) Fiona teaches us for Warlpiri. My skin name is Japaljarri.
Boy Hey! Ah! Get out!
Inside the classroom, Fiona conducts a lesson. The kids are seated on the floor.
Fiona (speaks Warlpiri with English subtitles) You two are no good, you’re showing off. If you come to Warlpiri class, sit down good at Warlpiri class without being crazy. Do you learn Warlpiri here or nothing?
Fiona points a ruler at words on a noticeboard as the kids recite for her.
Fiona (speaks Warlpiri with English subtitles) Can all of you say it? What is this?
Ricco (speaks Warlpiri with English subtitles) Kangaroo
Fiona (speaks Warlpiri with English subtitles) Harley Jampajinpa and Joseph Jampajinpa. See you are Jampajinpa like this one. Who is Japaljarri here? (holds up name tag) Ricco is Japaljarri.
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.