Muuki Taylor

Muuki Taylor is a Manyjilyjarra language speaker born around 1945 at Wayinkurangu, a waterhole in the Percival Lakes area north of the Martu native title determination. He is a Martu pujiman (born in the desert). His family walked across the entire western section of the Great Sandy Desert, north to Joanna Springs and south to Parnngurr. He walked a vast area of Martu country with his mother, father and many siblings. He left the desert as an adult in 1965 and went with his family to Jigalong Mission. His family remained in Jigalong, but Muuki went to work in the pastoral industry, working on several Pilbara stations.

In the 1970s, Muuki moved, with a large number of other Martu, to Warralong station owned by the Nomads company. He lived and worked here for about ten years. He and other Martu moved to Punmu Community in 1983, where he worked to set up the community, build infrastructure and create a permanent home for those Martu who wished to live on their own country. In the early 1990s, Muuki moved with his family to Parnngurr Community.

Muuki is a very senior and knowledgeable Martu man. He is a senior lawman recognised by Martu and throughout the desert. In 1987 Muuki met Sue Davenport, a young non-Martu worker employed to create a Martu oral history of the Canning Stock Route. In the late 1990s, Muuki, Sue, and other Martu pujiman started to make trips back onto Martu country – taking young people to learn about and see their country. Muuki continued to take people to visit country, and slowly Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa (KJ) was formed. Muuki has worked tirelessly since this time as KJ’s Senior Cultural Advisor, advising and providing his wisdom and incredible breadth of cultural, historical, social biological and geographic knowledge to Martu of all generations. Muuki is a recognised Martu artist.

In 2020, Muuki was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his service to Martu and work with KJ. In 2023, His Excellency Chris Dawson, Governor of Western Australia, presented the award to Muuki on behalf of all Australians. Read the article.

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