[1] The term applies to traditional healers of the Anangu, who live mostly in the APY Lands, which encompass about 103,000 square kilometres (40,000 sq mi) of South Australia,[2][3] and are part of the Western Desert cultural bloc of Aboriginal peoples.
In these times the ngangkari were primarily needed for simple injuries such as burns and people who had been in the sun too long, but that role has changed significantly.
Ngangkari healers are popular with clients from different backgrounds, assisting with pain management and relief and, especially for Aboriginal patients, improving attendance rates at medical appointments.
[9] Ngangkari include Pitjantjatjara artists Bill Whiskey Tjapaltjarri[10] and Betty Muffler of Iwantja Arts, whose work was featured in the 2020 Tarnanthi exhibition[11] as well as on the cover of the September 2020 issue of Vogue Australia.
[12] Muffler has a reputation of being one of the best ngangkari in the APY lands, and her healing powers have been in demand to help with anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (2020–2021).