Description
This ‘Jukurrpa’ (Dreaming) comes from Mina Mina, a very
important women’s Dreaming site far to the west of Yuendumu
near Lake Mackay and the WA border. The ‘kirda’ (owners) of
this Dreaming are Napangardi/Napanangka women and
Japangardi/Japanangka men; the area is sacred to Napangardi
and Napanangka women. There are a number of ‘mulju’ (water
soakages) and a ‘maluri’ (clay pan) at Mina Mina.
In the Dreamtime, ancestral women danced at Mina Mina and
‘karlangu’ (digging sticks) rose up out of the ground. The women
collected the digging sticks and then travelled on to the east,
dancing, digging for bush tucker, collecting ‘ngalyipi’ (snake vine
[Tinospora smilacina]), and creating many places as they went.
‘Ngalyipi’ is a rope-like creeper that grows up the trunks and
limbs of trees, including ‘kurrkara’ (desert oak [Allocasuarina
decaisneana]). It is used as a ceremonial wrap and as a strap to
carry ‘parraja’ (coolamons) and ‘ngami’ (water carriers).
‘Ngalyipi’ is also used to e around the forehead to cure
headaches, and to bind cuts.
The women stopped at Karntakurlangu, Janyinki, Parapurnta,
Kimayi, and Munyuparntiparnti, sites spanning from the west to
the east of Yuendumu. When they stopped, the women dug for
bush foods like ‘jintiparnta’ (desert truffle [Elderia arenivaga]).
The Dreaming track eventually took them far beyond Warlpiri
country. The track passed through Coniston in Anmatyerre
country to the east, and then went on to Alcoota and Aileron far
to the northeast of Yuendumu and eventually on into
Queensland.
In Warlpiri paintings, traditional iconography is used to
represent the Jukurrpa and other elements. In many paintings
of this Jukurrpa, sinuous lines are used to represent the
‘ngalyipi’ (snake vine). Concentric circles are often used to
represent the ‘jintiparnta’ (desert truffles) that the women have
collected, while straight lines can be used to depict the
‘karlangu’ (digging sticks).
