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Kilkayi Barramundi Dreaming

Three women trying to trap Dayiwul the great barramundi with spinifex nets. This is a traditional method of fishing where by nyiyirriny (river spinifex) is rolled and placed in the water forming a kind of net. Dayiwul was too clever for the women and jumped over the barrier they had laid.  She pushed her body through the rock of what is now called Pitt Range. The women gave up and walked to a place called Gawinyji (Cattle Creek) where they turned into rocks.
The scales of Dayiwul embedded in the rock, became the diamonds that are extracted from the Argyle Diamond Mine.

Categories: WARMUN ART

Name: Madeline Purdie


Language: Gija


Community: Warmun


Biography:

Madeline Purdie was born in Wyndham, attended Ngalangangpum primary school in Warmun then she completed her secondary education in Broome.

Madeline is the Chair of Warmun Community and is also the Manager of the Warmun Aged Care program.

Purdie takes her traditional country as the subject of her paintings including her mother, Shirley Purdie's country. She also paints Ngarranggarni stories from her grandmother and grandfather's country in Norton Bore, Violet Valley and Argyle. She continues to paint the Ngarranggarni stories told to her by her older family members.

Madeline is also an accomplished carver and makes bird sculptures from boab nuts and jarlalu wood.


© the artist / art centre