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Raypiny Dhawu (Fresh Water Story)

All Aboriginal people originate from a spiritual source, fixed in a particular place in their land or the sea. These ‘spiritual reservoirs’ are often in the form of special waterholes made by Wangarr (creative spirits) that were created long ago close to the beginning of time. These creator beings moved across the countryside, shaping the land and implanting in each tract of country, the spiritual life force for the people who were to own it. These creative spirits took many forms and when they gave the land to each group, they also gave songs, dances, ceremony, the associated laws and language.

 

The creation story for Ganalbingu people took place near the middle section of the Glyde River where it becomes the Goyder River. Their land, Ngaliyindi, sits astride the Arafura Swamp in Central Arnhem Land. Many Ganalbingu artists paint totemic species significant to their clan. These can include baru (crocodile), banda (long necked turtle), buliya (catfish), yalman (waterlilies), gumang (magpie geese), dakawa (fresh water yabby), ratjuk (barramundi), warrnyu (flying fox) and more.

 

Categories: Bula'bula Arts

Name: Joy Burruna

Language: Djambarrpuyngu

Community: Ramingining

Biography:

Burruna's late mother was a renowned artist who was one of the first Yolngu women to ever paint. She paved the way for Yolngu women to not be seen as only weavers but painters too. Burruna learnt to paint by watching her mother and she now paints along side her sisters, daughters and granddaughters with a family lineage of strong women painters.  

Joy loves to paint stories about Morning Star, the very special and spiritual ceremony that is particular to her fathers side of the family, and other clans in this region. She also paints the king brown snake and blue tongue lizard creation story for her country of Djarraya. Some times Burruna will also paint the flying fox creation story for her mothers country of Ngalyindi, and fresh water stories about long neck turtles and crocodiles.  These stories are part of her family knowledge.

As well as being an artist for Bula’bula Arts, Joy is one of the directors.

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