Chad Creighton grew up in Broome and the Dampier Peninsula in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia, where hunting was an integral part of his childhood. As a Bardi and Nyul Nyul man, Creighton states that hunting is a significant aspect of their way of life, and they follow the seasons for hunting and fishing. This deep connection to the land and its resources has shaped their traditions for generations.
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02-07, 2025Creighton revealed to ABC Radio Perth, "Every weekend, or even every other day, we'd go out hunting or fishing. Our lives are very seasonal." He further explained that the rainy season is the time for hunting goannas, ducks, and geese, as well as catching reef fish in the ocean. In contrast, the cooler months are the season for hunting dugongs, showcasing the diversity of their hunting practices. These seasonal patterns dictate their diet and cultural activities.
Within the local community, wild cattle (Killas) are particularly prized, but tracking and hunting them requires exceptional skill. Hunters butcher these cattle in the bush, making every effort to avoid wasting any part of the animal. Information about recent cattle sightings and knowledge of how to butcher them is shared among the community. "People know the land really well, they know where to go," Creighton said. "We always take some young fellas with us so they can learn for the future, try their hand with the knives, that bush butchery skill is incredible."
For Creighton, hunting is a source of many cherished memories. "Those smells and sounds, the cicadas ringing in your ears, the smell of the tea trees and the dry creek beds," he said. "And the funny stories. A lot happens on those trips, whether it's wielding a goanna that's half the size of you and it's trying to curl around and grab you." He emphasized, "It's very much part of our way of life and culture, it's what we've learnt from our parents and grandparents."
It is this rich cultural heritage that prompted Creighton, along with co-curator Emilia Galatis and a team of Aboriginal artists, to create "Killa: Pindan to Plate," as part of the Perth Festival. Guests will be seated around a long table to enjoy an eight-course dinner, each dish inspired by the flavors of the West Kimberley region, including less common beef dishes such as beef heart, tongue, and kidney. The dinner aims to immerse guests in the cultural significance of hunting and food.
While dining, guests will be surrounded by a video installation showcasing Creighton and a group of companions hunting, fishing, and butchering in the Kimberley region. The restaurant will not actually serve wild cattle, as they cannot be hunted and sold commercially. Instead, a range of beef dishes will be featured, along with crab, oysters, and Kimberley mangoes. The event listing explicitly states that vegetarian options cannot be accommodated, emphasizing the focus on meat-based cuisine.
For Emilia Galatis, one of the event's creators, this is an opportunity to make people truly think about the source of their food. "I was very lucky to spend most of my 20s and early 30s living in the desert, Kimberley and Pilbara regions of the west, and I was lucky enough to be involved in different hunts and experience different foods," Galatis said. "I've always considered them to be truly life-changing global experiences." These experiences have shaped her perspective on food and its cultural significance.
"After briefly working in Fitzroy Crossing and being exposed to the wild cattle practices there, I thought at the time, how amazing would it be to sit inside a three-channel video installation, eating the meat, and then forcing people to accept the challenge of where the meat comes from," she continued. "This is what it looks like inside the animal." She acknowledges that the show is not for everyone, highlighting its potentially confronting nature.
"My uncle and auntie, who are actually very staunch vegetarians, I've been sort of pitching it to them. They're a bit like, 'Yeah, it's pretty revolting. We won't come, but we understand what you're doing'." She added, "We're hoping that through the voice of art and creativity, people can think about who they are, what they're doing, and their role in society as humans." The event aims to provoke reflection on the relationship between humans, animals, and the environment.
Creighton emphasizes that in addition to the extensive imagery of hunting and butchering cattle, the film program also features a great deal of scenic beauty and the enjoyment of those hunting trips. "Generally, all the fellas get together to go. There's a lot of excitement, especially when we were filming this movie." he said. "It's really good for camaraderie and men's mental health. It's just joke after joke." He added, "As well as the butchering and stuff, there's going to be beautiful countryside. We're going to take people to the West Kimberley."
"Killa: Pindan to Plate" opened at the Perth Festival on February 14. Audiences can also view the film for free as part of an artist talk. This provides an opportunity for further engagement with the themes and cultural significance of the work.
