NOT FOR RESALE.
Name: Rita Muni Simpson (dec.)
Language: Manyjilyjarra
Community: Punmu
Biography:
Muni was a Manyjilyjarra woman born in the early 1940s at Junpunkunuja, a soak located within the Percival Lakes region of the Great Sandy Desert. Muni’s mother was Mangala and her father was Manyjilyjarra. She grew up with her sisters, Jugarda Dulcie Gibbs and Mantararr (Muntararr) Rosie Williams. In Muni’s youth her family lived a pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) lifestyle, travelling through their ngurra (home Country, camp), the Country extending between the Percival Lakes and Kunawarritji (Canning Stock Route Well 33) regions.
A severe and prolonged drought from the 1950s made it difficult to continue living in the desert, prompting her family to move further south to the Karlamilyi (Rudall River) region. During that time, Muni's family met up with other Martu who informed them that their extended family members were living at Jigalong Mission. Following the death of Muni’s father in 1957, the family decided to join their relatives at the mission.
Later Muni and her sister Mantararr married two brothers. Together they worked at various stations in the Pilbara; around Cue, Meekatharra, Mullewa and Mt Magnet. Muni and Mantararr left the stations to mine for minerals with a yandy (winnowing dish) around Marble Bar and Bamboo Springs. At various times the sisters and their families lived at Jigalong, Strelley and Camp 61, a community which has since disbanded. During the 1980s ‘Return to Country’ movement all three sisters relocated to Punmu Aboriginal community. Muni continued to live in Punmu with her children and grandchildren until her death in 2008.
Muni was among the first Martu women to begin painting on canvas. A prolific artist, she often painted large collaborative works with her sisters. Her work has been exhibited widely across Australia, and acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria and the National Museum of Australia.
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