This is a film clip from the Western Desert of Central Australia from about 1965 showing an Aboriginal 'mapinjarra', or 'one who can cure sickness', in action. Some might say he is just a 'witchdoctor', but that is not to say he might not have the desired curing effect on his patient. Sometimes mind over matter is strong enough to cure a sick person. However, in modern terms he probably would be ineffectual against cancer, tumours, broken bones, organ failure, etc.
Acknowledgement to the copyright owner has been made and this small clip has been used on the basis of “fair dealing” for one or more of the following purposes- research or study, and/or criticism or review, and therefore we claim an exception to infringement of copyright under the “fair dealing” exemptions. This is a short educational clip from the full 314minute film 'People of the Australian Western Desert', available for purchase from our tax-payer funded National Film and Sound Archive here : [ Ссылка ] . An Australian National Film Board Production. Produced by the Australian Commonwealth Film Unit for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies.
© 2011 National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
