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D: 20.5cm H: 10cm-JWA628

MINA MINA JUKURRPA
The country associated with this Jukurrpa is Mina Mina, a place far to the west of Yuendumu, which is significant to Napangardi/Napanangka women and Japangardi/Japanangka men. All of them are the custodians of the Jukurrpa that created the area.

The Jukurrpa story tells of the journey of a group of women of all ages who travelled east, gathering food, collecting Ngalyipi (snake vine – Tinospora smilacina), and performing ceremonies as they travelled. The women began their journey at Mina Mina, where karlangu (digging sticks) emerged from the ground. Taking these implements, the women travelled east, creating Janyinki and other sites. Their journey took them far to the east, beyond the boundaries of Warlpiri country.

The Ngalyipi vine grows up the trunks and limbs of the Kurrkara (desert oak – Allocasuarina decaisneana) trees. Ngalyipi is a sacred vine to Napangardi and Napanangka women and has many uses. It can be used as a ceremonial wrap, as a strap to carry parrajas (wooden bowls) that are laden with bush tucker, and as a tourniquet for headaches.

The wavy lines represent the snake vine, the ‘u’ shapes represent the women, the circular shapes are edible mushrooms the women collect on their travels, and the two straight lines in the middle represent digging sticks.

D:10cm H:5cm-MNM619

MALIKIJARRA JUKURRPA (TWO DOGS DREAMING)
In this Dreaming story, two dog ancestors, a Jampijinpa and a Napangardi, travelled from the west to the east. At Tapu (a rockhole), the two dogs separated. The female dog, Napangardi, went to the south, and the male dog, Jampijinpa, went to the north. Eventually, he became lonely and howled for Napangardi in the south.

She came running to him, and they married at Ngarnka. They wore men’s and women’s marriage headdresses, and Jampijinpa painted himself with white clay for the ceremony.

The two dogs continued running east before arriving in Warlaku (Ali Curung). Many other dogs were living in Warlaku when they arrived. There were many families of dogs—mothers, fathers, children, and uncles—all living together.

D:10cm H:5cm-MAB665

MINA MINA JUKURRPA (WOMEN’S DREAMING)
This painting depicts a linear pattern called ‘body paint design.’ Aboriginal women paint their breasts and shoulders for ceremonies that include song and dance used to tell their ancient stories. The concentric circles symbolize ceremonies or meeting-places.

D:10cm H:5cm-JWA628

MINA MINA JUKURRPA
The country associated with this Jukurrpa is Mina Mina, a place far to the west of Yuendumu, which is significant to Napangardi/Napanangka women and Japangardi/Japanangka men. All of them are the custodians of the Jukurrpa that created the area.

The Jukurrpa story tells of the journey of a group of women of all ages who travelled east, gathering food, collecting Ngalyipi (snake vine – Tinospora smilacina), and performing ceremonies as they travelled. The women began their journey at Mina Mina, where karlangu (digging sticks) emerged from the ground. Taking these implements, the women travelled east, creating Janyinki and other sites. Their journey took them far to the east, beyond the boundaries of Warlpiri country.

The Ngalyipi vine grows up the trunks and limbs of the Kurrkara (desert oak – Allocasuarina decaisneana) trees. Ngalyipi is a sacred vine to Napangardi and Napanangka women and has many uses. It can be used as a ceremonial wrap, as a strap to carry parrajas (wooden bowls) that are laden with bush tucker, and as a tourniquet for headaches.

The wavy lines represent the snake vine, the ‘u’ shapes represent the women, the circular shapes are edible mushrooms the women collect on their travels, and the two straight lines in the middle represent digging sticks.

D:10cm H:5cm-LWA624

WAKIRLPIRRI JUKURRPA (DOGWOOD TREE DREAMING)
The main motif of this painting depicts the ‘wakirlpirri’ (dogwood [Acacia coriacea]) tree. ‘Wakirlpirri’ is a very useful tree that grows on the sides of creek beds and near ‘mulga’ trees. The seeds of this tree can be eaten raw or cooked on the fire. A deliciously sweet drink called ‘yinjirrpi’ is made from the seeds when they have been dried.

The wood can be used to make weapons such as ‘karli’ (boomerangs) and dancing boards for ceremonies. It is also good wood for burning in the fire because rain cannot extinguish it while it is burning.

In contemporary Warlpiri paintings, traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, specific sites, and other elements. This Jukurrpa travels from Jarrarda-Jarrayi through to Puturlu (Mount Theo), west of Yuendumu. This Jukurrpa belongs to Japanangka/Japangardi men and to Napanangka/Napangardi women.

D:10cm H:5cm-AAD777

SEVEN SISTERS
The Sisters created the landscape as they tried to escape from Wati Nyiru. They formed a rock hole that went underground and emerged on the other side of the hill. The women dived into the water and then flew up into the sky. Wati Nyiru followed them. Today, Wati Nyiru can be seen to the south of the Seven Sisters (the Pleiades), still chasing them across the sky.

D:10cm H:5cm-SJN699

ANGANPA JUKURRPA (BUSH-TAIL POSSUM DREAMING)
Janganpa Jukurrpa (common brush-tail possum [Trichosurus vulpecula] Dreaming) travels all over Warlpiri country. ‘Janganpa’ are nocturnal animals that often nest in the hollows of white gum trees (‘wapunungka’). This story comes from a big hill called Mawurrji, west of Yuendumu and north of Pikilyi (Vaughan Springs). A group of ‘janganpa’ ancestors resided there. Every night they would go out in search of food. Their hunting trips took them to Wirlki and Wanapirdi, where they found ‘pamapardu’ (flying ants). They journeyed on to Ngarlkirdipini looking for water. A Nampijinpa women was living at Mawurrji with her two daughters. She gave her daughters in marriage to a Jupurrurla ‘janganpa’ but later decided to run away with them. The Jupurrurla angrily pursued the woman. He tracked them to Mawurrji where he killed them with a stone axe. Their bodies are now rocks at this place. Warlpiri people perform a young men’s initiation ceremony, which involves the Janganpa Jukurrpa. The Janganpa Jukurrpa belongs to Jakamarra/Jupurrurla men and Nakamarra/Napurrurla women. In Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent this Jukurrpa. ‘Janganpa’ tracks are often represented as ‘E’ shaped figures and concentric circles are used to depict the trees in which the ‘janganpa’ live, and also the sites at Mawurrji.