IHHP Milyakburra Bickerton Island - This my home, this island

IHHP artists Danzel, Jess, Jjay and Syd worked along side the Milyakburra School on Bickerton Island off Groote Eylandt to create this beautiful island home song. The week was focused around school and community engagement, a reconnection to all the incredible positive energy that this community has and being proud of Milyakburra and Bickerton Island. We were blessed to have the guidance of Traditional Owner Morgan and his wife Helen alongside all other community members who were integral in the final production of this song and we cannot thank them enough. Another huge thanks to Sarah and the staff at Milyakburra school for going above and beyond. Bickerton Island this is our song!!

IHHP Milyakburra Bickerton Island - This my home, this island
Some words translated from Andiliyakwa to english

VERSE 1
Milyakburra here, Bickerton island
Yelyukwanja, the beautiful white sand
Going in the boat catching turtle
quickly quickly get the spear
Listening to the stories by the fire
Certain place is where we get the oysters
Looking for tracks to find turtle egg
Taste so good, makes me want more
North bay south bay all the way
We like fishing everyday
We do backflips into the rock pool
Water so fresh it keeps us cool
In the wet, slide down the water fall
We love swimming it is beautiful
This is my country, this is my home
Everyone here it’s our own

PRECHORUS
Bickerton island this is our song
Wurra Murra people is where we come from
Bickerton island this is our song
Wurra murra people is where were from
Bickerton island this is our song
Wurra Murra people sing along

CHORUS
Yea this my home this island, everybody smiling, dancing in the sand yea, listen to the band yea, Milyakburra yea yea, yes yes yea yea, everyone here, everyone here

VERSE 2
Jamming yea it feels good
Play music loud like you should
To all my ladies all around
Grab your sisters lets break it down
Hear that sound, feel that beat
Move your body down to your feet
Traditional dance our culture strong
Traditional dance all night long
Hear the clapstick, hear the yirraka
Songman singing andiliyakwa
Respect your country respect tradition
Respect your elders make sure you listen
Wurra marra people this our land
Walking this place since time began
Everybody here
Everybody here

PRECHORUS
Bickerton island this is our song
Wurra Murra people is where we come from
Bickerton island this is our song
Wurra murra people is where were from
Bickerton island this is our song
Wurra Murra people sing along

CHORUS
Yea this my home this island, everybody smiling, dancing in the sand yea, listen to the band yea, Milyakburra yea yea, yes yes yea yea, everyone here, everyone here