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Kungkarrangkalpa (Seven Sisters)

‘Kungkarrangkalpa’ (The Seven Sisters or Pleaides) is significant Tjukurrpa (dreamtime). Its origins you may be familiar with in astronomy and its connection to ‘Wati Nyiru’ (Magic Man or Orion).  The roots of this dreaming stems across indigenous groups around the world. The Australian Aboriginal songline is one part to the whole dreaming which can be traced all around the world. The ladies of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands depict their significant chapter and understanding of the journey of the sisters. The different versions of this story depend on where you live and the significance’s of local Tjukurrpa places.

Nyiru fell in love with the sisters but he was of the wrong skin group to marry, but he still pursued them on their journey. The sisters travel across the land to escape Nyiru’s unwanted attentions, but he is persistent and always finds them. There are significant land forms which can be sited today that evidence this dreaming. As Nyiru is chasing the sisters he tries to catch them by using magic to turn into the most tempting kampurarrpa (bush tomato) and the most beautiful Yirli (wild fig tree), for them to eat and camp under. However, the sisters are knowledgeable of his magic and too clever for Nyiru who they outwit again and again. They go hungry and run through the night rather than be caught by him. As the journey continues, Nyiru gets so frustrated at the wit of the sisters that he uses his magic to make the oldest sister sick to try and get closer to her. The other sisters rescue the big sister and nurse her back to health. It is said he also captures the youngest sister, but with the help of the oldest sister, she escapes back to her sisters who are waiting for her. Eventually, the sisters fly into the sky to escape Nyiru, forming the constellation. Nyiru felt lonely, longing for the sisters who were so far away. Nyiru used his magic to go to the sky, forever in pursuit.

Categories: Papulankutja Artists

Name: Nellie Tjawina Roberts

Language: Ngaanyatjarra

Community: Irrunytju (Wingellina)

Biography:

Nellie Tjawina Roberts, was born in the bush around 1950 at Kata Yurlu near Blackstone. While she was still a young baby, both of her parents passed away. She was taken in, along with her sister Karrika Belle Davidson (now deceased, painted with Papulankutja Artists) and brother Tjuruparu Watson by the Nuns at the Warburton Mission. She spent all of her childhood at the Mission and it was there that she received her education.

When she was still in school, her brother took her to Pukatja (Ernabella) in South Australia, to be with him and other family members. She didn’t feel very happy there, and soon returned to Warburton. Later on, she moved to Amata (SA) where she met her first husband. Together they had three children, which she raise by herself after her husband left.

During the 1970s, a mine was opened at Irrunytju (Wingellina – 75kms east of Blackstone) community in Western Australian near the SA-WA border. The mine provided many opportunities for work, so Tjawina and her children made the move west. Nellie continues to live in Irrunytju with her family to this day and paints with the Minyma Kutara Arts Project.

Nellie started painting during the early 2000s, soon after the first art centres were opened in the APY Lands, SA and the NG Lands in WA. Until 2019 there was no permanent art centre in Irrunytju, so she was supported by Ninuku Arts in Kalka - just a short distance away over the border in SA. Her paintings often depict her home country, Iljupa, which she paints using bold combinations of colours and dot work.

As well as creating baskets and sculptures for Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Tjawina carves punu for Maruku Arts and Craft. Tjanpi (dry grass) evolved from a series of basket weaving workshops held in remote communities in the Western Desert by the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council in 1995.

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