“My father’s Country. This is the four soaks in his Country.”
– Emily Bumba
Name: Emily Bumba
Biography:
I was born in La Grange Mission- now it’s called Bidyadanga community. Bidyadanga means emu drinking from a waterhole in Karajarri language. Bidyadanga is home to four other tribes besides Karajarri. They came from the desert- the Mangala, Nyangamarta, Juwaliny and Yulparrija tribes. My father’s tribe is from the Ngurrara area (Joanna Springs) and his language group is Mangala. My mother’s tribe is Manyjillyjarra. She’s from the Great Sandy Desert, Kulyakartu area.
I, myself go by two ways- my mother’s and my father’s way. I am Milangka skin, my father is Panaka and my mother is Karimarra. I have six sisters including myself and one brother. I grew up in Bidyadanga and I was schooling at La Grange Remote School up until grade seven. I did my years eight to ten at Nulungu College in Broome. I did further education in Saint Mary’s school in Leederville until year twelve. I was placed in a foster house in Perth while I was schooling- I went back and forth during school holidays to be with my family.
Growing up in Bidyadanga was strict! My father was really protective of all of us- my sisters and brother. He wanted the best for us, for our education, and to have respect for our elders and for our family members. My father was working for the mission, he was a manager helping Father McKelson. Working alongside beside him was John Dodo, a Karajarri tribal elder, and Jack Malardy, also a Karajarri tribal elder. My mother was working at the bakery shop along with the other local ladies. She was also working with the nuns doing laundry and ironing and cooking for the lay missionaries.
The reason why I took up painting is because both of my parents came from the desert, the Martu and Ngurrara area. Working with the old people here at the Martumili Artists centre is giving me more connection to my mother and father’s country, because both of my parents have passed away. I feel privileged working with my elders, Wokka and Muuki and [Kanu] Nancy Taylor (dec.), my mother’s brothers and her sister in law. Their stories will continue on in my paintings.
Jintullurru Ngumpulurru – Martu Kinship ‘The four skin groups that govern Martu social structures around marriage and lore are Jangala, Karimarra, Purungu and Milamga”. Anya is Milamgka, I am Karimarra skin. ‘Within each skin grouping there is Read more…
Rockhole “I went on a KJ ranger trip for 3 days. The first day we slept near the water hole, the second day we went to the other water hole and the last day we Read more…
Mulyamiji (Great Desert Skink) “I like painting because I love seeing my Grandparent paint their country and telling us about how they used to walk long distances.” – Amon Chapman Amon is painting a Mulyamiji Read more…