Outstation Education : Western Desert Style

Abstract

Papunya settlement is located some 250km west of Alice Springs on the Haasts Bluff Aboriginal Reserve. Originally commenced in 1958 as an alternative for the growing numbers of people living at the old Finke River Mission ration depot of Haasts Bluff, it became the centre of the Luritja language group. These people were traditionally Mayutjara, Ngalia or Pintupi. There are some other languages spoken at Papunya but this is almost exclusively by adults who have married into the Luritja group. A large number of traditional Pintupi people who have lived at or near Papunya are now located on what are known as the Western Outstations.