Clever Man: The Life of Paddy Compass Namadbara

Author:   Big Bill Neidjie ,  Bluey Ilkgirr ,  Jacob Nayinggul ,  Jim Wauchope
Publisher:   ATF Press
ISBN:  

9781925302233


Pages:   128
Publication Date:   01 November 2020
Format:   Paperback
Availability:   In stock   Availability explained
We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately.

Our Price $69.84 Quantity:  
Add to Cart

Share |

Clever Man: The Life of Paddy Compass Namadbara


Add your own review!

Overview

Clever Man: The Life of Paddy Compass Namadbara offers a unique perspective on the life and making of this Aboriginal Western Arnhem clever man or marrkidjbu. Born at the end of the 19th Century when the Western world had scarcely touched Arnhem Land, Paddy Compass Namadbara acted as a healer for his countrymen and became a powerful and revered leader. Using his clever abilities and wisdom to nurture his community, he enabled the community to deal with the cultural and social changes of the encroaching Western world. He achieved the reputation of being one of the most powerful and clever of traditional marrkidjbu described as 'a proper number one champion!' Based on stories told by the people he helped, some profoundly and in extraordinary ways. This unique biography looks at his life through the eyes of his Western Arnhem countrymen who witnessed his extraordinary abilities. Ian White, researcher and compiler for Clever Man: The Life of Paddy Compass Namadbara, encourages readers to give greater consideration to the reality of the extraordinary abilities of clever people such as Paddy Compass. 'Ian White's book offers a unique historical glimpse into an Aboriginal world on the cusp of change due to European incursion; it reveals an authentic insight into the special relationship of the 'clever man' with his Dreaming spirits and his process of initiation into the special knowledge of a marrkidjbu. White compiled his generalised account of 'Old Paddy', aka Paddy Compass Namadbara, from a number of West Arnhem people for whom Old Paddy had been a major figure in their lives. Recording various accounts, White's extraordinary work shows Old Paddy's special talent for healing the sick, exercising wisdom, and having visions in which he foresaw future events, for which he offered guidance and strategies for dealing with Western encroachment. Old Paddy's visions of the future foretold major events that were astonishing in the 1950s: Aborigines would get paid for their work, would own land and cars, and that money issues would bring division. All of his predictions came true. A rare insight into the world of the Dreaming, this book is unique and essential reading.' - Susan Greenwood, University of Sussex 'Forty years since the passing of Paddy Compass Namadbara, his legacy still looms large amongst the people of western Arnhem Land. Ian White has dedicated decades to recording the story of Namadbara's life and here he presents an extraordinary biography as told by the people of this region of the Northern Territory. The anecdotes about Namadbara's exceptional powers as a 'clever man' portray him as a community leader, teacher, sage, mystic, counsellor and healer. These are however more than just marvellous stories that defy explanation and evoke our wonder. The events of Namadbara's life, described by so many witnesses from both sides of the cultural divide, and collated so respectfully in this book, are an ongoing challenge to how various fields of the social and cognitive sciences should deal with such matters.' - Dr Murray Garde OAM, ANU

Full Product Details

Author:   Big Bill Neidjie ,  Bluey Ilkgirr ,  Jacob Nayinggul ,  Jim Wauchope
Publisher:   ATF Press
Imprint:   ATF Press
Weight:   0.400kg
ISBN:  

9781925302233


ISBN 10:   1925302237
Pages:   128
Publication Date:   01 November 2020
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In stock   Availability explained
We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately.

Table of Contents

Reviews

Paddy Compass diagnosed illness by X-ray vision, brought willy willys into existence and dead animals back to life. He foresaw the future, provided confident assurance in turbulent times, and gave men purpose. --Emeritus Professor Nicholas Peterson, ANU Old Paddy's visions of the future foretold major events that were astonishing in the 1950s: Aborigines would get paid for their work, would own land and cars, and that money issues would bring division. All of his predictions came true. A rare insight into the world of the Dreaming, this book is unique and essential reading. --Susan Greenwood, University of Sussex This powerful and sensitive portrait of Paddy Compass Namadbara, a West Arnhem Land marrkidjbu, or clever man, deserves a place among the classic works on shamanism. --Paul Nadasdy Professor of Anthropology and American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Cornell University


Author Information

Ian White is an anthropologist and archaeologist who has worked in the Western Arnhem Region with the Northern Land Council for 24 years. He undertook the main fieldwork on which the Paddy Compass portrait is based during his studies as a Master of Arts in Anthropology at the University of Western Australia. Since retiring he has devoted much time to exploring the many avenues of scientific and philosophical research that may begin to throw light on the question of the powers of the mind, a question that is raised by the story of Paddy Compass Namadbara.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions
Latest Reading Guide

Aorrng

Shopping Cart
Your cart is empty
Shopping cart
Mailing List