Alan Griffiths

Alan Griffith’s is a respected Aboriginal Elder of the Mirima Community and is deeply committed to cultural maintenance and traditional ways. When he was a young man he was given a ceremony by his Grandfather. Later in 1974 he had his own dream and added this to the song lines he already practiced.

Alan has continued to dream stories and as a result the Bali Bali Balga has evolved.

The Bali Bali Balga is a cultural ceremony that tells dreaming stories (old and new) about the country, the spirits and the Noongali people. It is structured in verse and each verse is represented by a Balmoora (woven dance board) made to a specific design that relates to the song line. Alan and his wife Peggy regularly preform the Bali Bali Balga and participate in many of the other ceremonial performances including the Joonba, Wonga, Morroom Moorum, Liga and the Moonga Moonga Ceremonies.

Alan’s artistic career began in the early 80’s carving boab nuts and making didgeridoos for the growing white community of Kununurra. Later he began painting for Waringarri Aboriginal Arts and Red Rock Art. In the last few years Alan has begun to translate his ceremonies on to canvas and has developed a unique, culturally significant and enjoyable painting style.

Alan and Peggy also work with the school and language centre in Kununurra teaching children traditional dancing. In 1997 they were invited to launch the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award in Darwin. Also is also an accomplished printmaker.

Alan was born in January 1933 at Victoria River Downs Station in the Northern Territory where he lived and worked as a stockman until 1957. He then moved to Elgee Station until 1960, Pethrick Station 1961, Elizabeth Downs Station (Daley River) in 1962. In 1963 he worked for Public Works Department laying pipe in Wyndham. Alan then returned to stockman work at Newry Station in 1964, In 1965 he then went to Argyle Station where he married his promised wife Peggy. In 1966 until 1981 Alan worked on a Cotton Farm driving a tractor.