BIRNOO COUNTRY – GORDON BARNEY
Gordon has depicted his country known as Alice Downs Station – this was where he was born and had mustered cattle throughout his younger years as a young man. This is also Gordon’s mother’s country.
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Blowfly Ngarranggarni – Kathy Ramsay
Back in the early days my mum and dad went up to this hill to look for Porcupine we call it (Bargabul) black name they found one on top of this hill it was in a small hole they tried so hard to dig it out but it kept on going in the hole and all these annoying blow flies came swarming all over their faces they was annoyed by them so they both left the bargabul and went back home to the station.
This story was to me by my mum Mona Ramsay.
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Birnoo Country
This painting shows Gordon’s country – Birnoo Country (Alice Downs Station). Birnoo is Gordon’s mother’s country. Gordon mustered cattle all throughout this country for many years – the way his father taught him to.
He became known as a skilled horsebreaker and buckjumper (rodeo rider). When Gordon worked as a stockman, he would often carry with him a saddle bag for his ochre collection. At the end of his mustering stint, he would have a bagful of ochres that he sourced from riding through his country.
He often paints the hills of Birnoo, which connects his to his mother’s country.
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Warramarn Ngarranggarni
‘The white spot in the painting is the Warrananj, the Eagle, the owner of Gija land Warrmarn. The Eagle Dreaming is located in the centre of Guwalunj, the hill overlooking old Warrmarn (Turkey Creek). Gawalalaj is that long hill that forms part of Guwalunj but it is bunched up altogether and runs down towards the south, like a long boundary fence line. Gawalalaj is a reference point for all the old time Gija- people that first set foot and lived on this land.
Guwala – them small knoll stand alone by itself
Jurrung – Kangaroo Dreaming situated down the creek. Black outcrop below the bridge eastside.
Jirrinj – Same kangaroo Dreaming on the left
Kawarrata – Long black hill on canvas, is actually the spear Dreaming
Kalumpunj – Sharp pointy end of spear Dreaming painted in white ochre on canvas, separated from the long spear Dreaming.’
DREAMTIME STORIES
LEGEND
This is the story of the kangaroo. It is said that the kangaroo (jirrinj) was travelling from the north towards the desert in the south came across Warrmarn and stop to have a rest, but the Eagle (Warrananj) had thought the kangaroo was going to take over the land, so the Eagle took up his spear and threw it at the kangaroo, the Eagle missed him by an inch. The kangaroo hopped on towards the desert , where the spear had landed, the sharp pointed end snapped and that is the sharp pointed hill in this painting.
BELIEF
Hector said: ‘If Warrananj, the eagle, would have listened to the Jirrinj, the kangaroo, and stayed at home, old Warrmarn would have had two languages, Gija and desert language, and two cultures would be practiced together nowadays. But the eagle was satisfied with only one, and thus there’s only Gija language and culture in Warmun.
MYTHS
Warramarn Warrananj Ngarranganti (Warmun Eagle Dreaming)
During the dreamtime, Jirrinj, the kangaroo, fled south into the desert. There it remained until it finally turned into a spirit. That was the time when humans came into the world. For a time thereafter Jirrinj saw something in the north, around Warmun. But Warrananj, the eagle, didn’t notice and so Jirrinj wanted to explain what it saw to Warrananj. But Warrananj didn’t have time for any explanations and even got angry and threw its spear at Jirrinj. So Jirrinj decided to send a man from the desert, to live among Gija people in Warmun instead. An old Gija lady, who was killed in a car accident, came to the desert man as a vision. In this vision she told him Jirrinj’s message, but also she showed him all of the Gija country and taught him Gija language, the names of all places and all the songs. The vision made the desert man sick for a while but then got better. He then gathered all the leading Gija elders and started to explain the Dreaming (Ngarranggarni) he had had. He spoke in Gija language and so the Gija elders believed him, because no one ever taught the desert man this language. And so finally the message from Jirrinj was heard in Gija country. That thing that Jirrinj noticed and wanted to explain to the eagle was the Gurirr Gurirr corroborree. The desert man that Kangaroo sent to live with the Gija people was the famous painter Rover Thomas.
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Garnkiny & Black headed snake – Eileen Bray
“This is that Garnkiny (moon) and Nambin skin story”
This story takes place back in the ngarnankarni (dream-time).
There once were three female known to be of Nyawanna skin, all who were the rightful skin to Nambin (black-headed snake) But it is told that the snake didn’t want to marry any of his rightful skin instead he wanted to marry the moon, this was forbidden as the moon was known to be his mother-in-law.
Within Eileen’s artwork you can see there are three hills positioned in the front of the artwork – these are described as Nyawana skin, as the snake is described to be the black-head snake – of Nambin skin. Located on top of the artwork sits the mother-in-law depicted as the moon.
Back in the old days there were serious consequences when marrying the wrong skin, these actions would end in severe body injuries as well as blood shed, sometimes even banishment from the tribe and community. So it is very important to know what skin you are allowed to marry and not to marry.
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THIRRINGGENJI – The Owlet Nightjar
Dreaming at Tickelara – Thirringgenji
Thirringgenji
Owlet nightjar
Gaboowa?
What now?
Berrema-noo Adam thirringgenji.
This is the home of the owlet nightjar.
Nginya
This here.
Nginy jarliji-gany, jarred – ngarri nginini “Gayi daambi – ngoongoo?”
This friend of his when he said, “Where is your camp?”
Ngarranggarnin
in the dream time
“Jilan ngenan’ge.”
” I stay on the ground.”
An nginyi joowijgarneny, Dany joowijgarneny, ngarri
And this bower bower bird, that bower bower bird,
“Gayigana nimbiyannha?”
“What time will you go around?”
“Mendoowoo-moowan, biyaya ngenarn-ni boorraliy-boorroo” wanemayi nginyi thirringgenji.
” Only in the night time I will look around for feed, ” this owlet nightjar said.
“Nga!”
“Ah!”
“Well Miyawoony, jarlayi!”
” Well never mind friend!”
” Ngoorroona ngoonboon ‘ge-ninggi, ngoorroon.”
” I’ll be over there for you, over there.”
Ngoorlooba Ginini, Dany joowijgarneny.
He told lies , that bower bird
nginy, denggij-garri wanemayinde dam yarlgam.
this one, when he broke off those white stones.
Dany thirringgenji nawane walig-garringiniyin ngenengga, wayiniyana yimele wanemayinde derranden, dany joowijgarneny, jimbirlambi.
When that owlet nightjar went inside the hole here, then in the daytime the bower bird stole the spear heads.
Nhawiyangen daanji-ni boonoo nginiyi, joowijgarneny dany, yimele wanemayinde, jimbirlam.
He painted himself in his own camp, that bower bird, he stole the spearheads.
Mendoo, mendoowoondi dan Biri nginiyi, gawoo gawoorra jimbirlambi.
At night time he came back, where. where are the spear heads.
Biya wanemayinde-noo nginyjiny thirringgenji-ni dam, jimbirlam.
The owlet night jar was looking around for those things he made from the white stone, his spearheads.
“Degba janemannha jarlayı?”
” Did you see it mate?”
Ngoowan, ngoowan, ngoowana
No, no, no.
Dama nginimiyin, ngoorlooba wanemayinde.
Thats what he he did he told lies.
Nhawiyana yimele wanemayinde Jambi jimbirlam, thirringgenji-ni.
He stole tose spear heads, belonging to the owlet night jar
Birriyama-noo daamga.
This here is his place.
Dany joowijgarneny yimele wanemayinde jimbirlam-noo, yarlgal dal.
That bower bird stole his spear heads, that white stone (quartz).
Damoowama-noo jarragbe.
That is all the story about him.
Danya, yimele nyimeliyi,joowijgarneny dany, jarliji-gany.
That one, he stole it, that bower bird, his friends.
Nginini-ni ” Nga, Gayiwa daambi Ninha?”
He said to him ” Ah, where do you stay?”
“Ngagenybe daam yilag, nyengendi wentha?”
My camp is down there what about you.
Miya ngrnan’ge ngoorroo-ngoorroon.
I’ll just stay over there.
Ngoorlooba Ginini joowijgarneny.
That bower bird told lies.
“Gayiggana girls nirda?”
“What time do you walk around?”
“Ngoowan, mendoowoon nginbirn.”
“No, Ill do it in the night.”
Nga!
Ah!
Bagoo-ngarri ngininiyin dan, derranden, danyi thirringgen,
When he was sleeping there, in the daytime, that owlet nightjar,
Waniniyana yimele wanemayinde dandi, boor-ngarriya nginiyin.
that is when he (joowijgarneny) stole the things he (thirringgen) had sharpened.
Mendoowoonybe-ngarri win, degree wanemanyji-boorroo dam jimberlam
When night time came, he was looking around for those spear heads.
Garloomboom, gawoorra?
Spear, where?
Joowijgarneny dany yimele wanemayinde.
That one is a thief, he stole.
That story bout that, two bird and that whadegolem, that bower bird oldeyi steal em spear head Bela Im.
That bird he… Oh he stopping la flat Loa day.
That his camp.
Birriyama.
Here is it now,
Ma!
Come on!
Gaboowa?
What now?
Dama berlengbeg benama, dana boorr-boorr wanemayinde jimbirlam.
He made those things smooth, there ( where) he was sharpening spearheads.
Ma!
OK, Come on.
Berrema boorr0boorr benama.
Here he sharpened them.
Boorr-boorr-ngarri wandma ngarranggarnin.
When he was sharpening them in the Dream Time.
Berrema, boorr-boorrngen-noowa.
This is his sharpening place.
Boorr-boorrngen, banhengbeg-ngarri benayanyjinhawiyangem.
His sharpening place where he made his spearheads smooth.
Birriyama-noo daa-wirrinbe.
This is where he used to camp all the time.
Thirringgenji-berra
From the owlet nightjar
Birriyama-noo.
This is his place.
Joowijgarneny danyi yimele wanemayinde-noo jimbirlambi.
That bower bird stole his spearheads.
Yimeleny dany-ayiny!
He was a real thief like that.
“Gawoo gawoorra-goorroony jarlayi?” wanemayi-ningi.
“But where are your friend?” he said to him.
“Ngoowan, ngoowan, yi, yi.
“No, no, yi, yi.
“A ngoorrinya-ngoo, yimele ngoorrama-ngoo.”
“Ah that is over there for you, they stole it on you.”
Ngoorlooba nginini, joowijgarneny.
The bower bird told lies.
Berrema daa-wirrirn-noongoo.
This is his living area.
Wel nhawoon dama, dam-noongoo
Well thats the law bela im.
FK Gija?
Wel wayiniya berrema-noo ngarranggarnim dam, ganarram bemberrayangbe.
Well like that here is his dreamtime thing, they put leaves.
Layigabngagenyen daam dam.
Like in that place of mine (My country).
Thadan when you, thats why you cant get sick when you, or even la my country you chuck a stone longa water.
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warlawoon country – Kathy Ramsey
Within this artwork Kathy has described a place known as Warlawoon – it is located between two stations, these are known to be Bedford Downs and Tableland St. This was where Kathy’s father and renowned artist and elder Rammey Ramsey had grown up.
Although minimal in appearance, the artist’s artwork are laden with meaning – as Kathy paints the hills, camping places and the waterholes of this country.
The water holes are seen as the circles coloured in yellow ochres – as well as the hills, whereas the camping places are located on the bottom of artwork described in red square like figure, surrounded by tree’s that the artist has painted within each corner of artwork- seen in green fern like shapes.
Today Kathy now lives in the community of Juwurlinji otherwise known as (Bow River), north of Warlawoon. However this work is forever infused with the memory of and longing for Warlawoon. Beyond depictions of place, these paintings act as reminders of the impact of pastoral occupation on Gija homelands.
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HOLIDAY CAMP – LORRAINE DAYLIGHT
Lorraine Daylight has painted her father’s country. Daylight’s father is senior Warmun artist Gordon Barney. ‘Holiday camp,’ Gordon Barney says. ‘Walkabout every holiday catching kangaroo, porcupine, goanna – all sorts.’ Barney worked as a stockman on Alice Downs station as a young man. In the periods where they were given a break from station work, Barney and his family would camp at this place and live on bush food. This country was excellent hunting ground.
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Nylalindi.
In this painting Bobby depicts the vastness of Gurwliny (Arafura Wetlands) in North East Arnhem Land and in particular his homeland of Nylalindi. These are the second biggest wetlands in the world, Florida has the biggest, and in this painting Bobby is showing the colours of the dry season sunsets and of the Earth and sky and the landscape scorched by fires used to control growth and for hunting, and the wilderness of the grasslands and paperbark tree forests which line the freshwater billabongs, so abundant in food and birdlife.
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Bungarrata
The Gija message stick(Bungarrata) was sent around to all the Gija places where all the Gija people were living. When the Bungarrata reached Gija people, it was handed over to the senior elder of those individual tribal Gija groups. The Bungarrata was marked by a senior elder holder of the Gija law and culture (Munumbarra). Then the messager would pass on the message in Gija and the senior elders of those individual Gija tribal groups would acknowledge right away who it was coming from, what it meant to them and that they would start moving/travelling into that certain meeting/gathering place immediately by tribal order from the senior elders. The message Bungarrata travelled around places at the beginning of the new moon, quarter moon and half moon. By the time it reached its last Gija place, the Gija people would move into that meeting/gathering place and find that everybody was already gathered there and it would be full moon. Nobody had a clue how that message stick(Bungarrata) system worked but it always did, and that was the beauty of it.