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Wirlarra (Wilarra)

Wirlarra, the site depicted in this painting, lies on the eastern edge of a large salt lake, Nyayartakujarra (Lake Dora), near Punmu Aboriginal community. A distinctive group of small salt water pools are clustered together here. The water from these pools is known for its’ powerful healing properties, and the pools are still visited today by Martu to bathe cuts and sores. 

Wirlarra is also a term for ‘moon’ in Manyjilyjarra, and through the site’s Jukurrpa (Dreaming) narrative, the site is united with the moon in significance. It is said that at Wirlarra, the moon called to a family of dingoes; a mother, father and their large litter of dingo pups. The dingoes gathered at Wirlarra, where the moon cared for them and created a windbreak for the family to shelter. Here the dingoes scratched at the surface of the salt lake and created the cluster of salt water pools located there today. They lay down there. After a time, the dingoes continued travelling eastward toward the rising moon until they reached Kinyu (Well 35 on the Canning Stock Route), where they remained until all of the dingo pups had grown up. From Kinyu the family travelled further east with the moon.

Categories: Shire of East Pilbara (Martumili Artists)

Name: Morika Biljabu

Language: Manyjilyjarra

Community: Punmu

Biography:

"I was born in Port Hedland in January 1988, my skin is Purungu. I’m a Martu girl. My first language is Manyjilyjarra and my second language is English. I grew up in Parnngurr and Punmu communities. When I was young, I didn’t know what was out in the desert. Even when I first took photos of Martu people, I didn’t really know what was going on. When the old people all started painting, I asked them what they were doing and they told me where their country was and taught me the country stories. I really love taking photos of the old people and they have been giving me a better idea of what they are doing when they paint. That was how I learned about the history of the Canning Stock Route and how they all lived in the desert. How they survived there. They all helped me a little bit. They helped me understand how I am connected to their paintings and related to all the families through the skin groups and how we are all connected to the country. It’s a big country. All the people seem to paint different stories, but it’s the same story underneath. We’re really all one people, with one big story and one big country." Morika has been assisting her grandmother, Jakayu Biljabu, on a series of significant works and learning more about her country. In 2009, Morika was nominated for the Prix Pictet, an international prize devoted to photography and sustainability.

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