Stephen Stewart known throughout the Pilbara region of Western Australia as Number Two is the head lore man and senior Elder of the Ngarla traditional owner group.
We follow his life from his birth on Pardoo station at the end of the first world war, he describes early life living on the station with songs retelling the events of hardships and massacres of indigenous people living on stations across the Pilbara.
His life dedicated to culture is entwined with incredible moments in Australian history. Enlisted and relocated to Broome during World War 2 to fight alongside other young indigenous man, a decorated jockey and top stockman across Northern Territory and Western Australia.
Number Two’s cultural knowledge has been the cornerstone for many Pilbara language groups to reinstate their lost culture through Number Two’s re-education of stories and songs which he shares back to the group’s younger generations.
He is the last remaining cultural singer of the Pilbara region, a vault of knowledge for the entire region as he sings of the cultural boundaries, the hunting and dancing grounds. He sings to the snake and the spirits as he keeps his country and people safe.
