“This is that Greenvale now. Mum told me that that’s that Garrganny (water lily) place. They got a sharp rock there and all them pointy rocks.
Them round circles, them digging holes from the old, old people. They went looking for them things now, bush potatoes.”
“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.
Tatum started painting the ant hills as its a big part of the Kimberly region but it also has alot of meaning to her and her family, her ancestors were placed in anthills when they passed away.
Her Jaru family believe anthills are for healing, you get rubbed down with the anthill, after you wash it off you feel refreshed, it takes away bad vibe also cold sick too.
“This painting is about the Warlawoon Country my dad Rammie Ramsay country my beautiful old artist dad who left his memory with me to carry on after him.
Trees, Camping areas, water holes, hills and traditional stories of his mum and dad and their parents and so on he told me.”
This is Jimbala country. Jimbala means Spear head Stones, just below the Iron ore mine.
The rock is called Loomoogool, meaning Blue-Tongue Lizard. back in the old days.
T part of the land is so strong and gifted to my elders to this country. the rock tells its story. its very powerful and it has Ngarrnangarni story.
This rock is an old woman also my great great Grandmothers stories told to her families. This rock gave my families tongue to sing the tribal songs (corroboree). My families is well well known corroboree people, My grandfather Timmy Timms and his sister Peggy Patrick, also my Mother Mona Ramsey are the very special people of the Gija tribe.
The country of Bow river and Jimbala country is the boundaries of our ancestors that once walked, camped, gave names to hills, shared their songs together. Its been passed to them. and then, when the Kardiya (=White people) came, white people the pioneers of the Kimberley as they would called themselves, took over our native land and built pastorals over it and remain as their stations, also mining companies has taken parts of our land and left it in big ruin. God gave us boundaries to have and to hold, not to destroy it. For God is our creator. just remember that our country is spiritually connected to us
‘This is my family place. Hot water spring and cold water spring. That big hill on the background is my family place. That water live all year ’round. That little sand frog, it live for a long time.’ This place is the Ngarrangkarni (Dreaming) site for the sand frog. The waterhole at Winuba holds water all through the Dry season.
This painting represents two countries – Kathy’s dad’s country, Warlawoon, and her country where she grew up, Bow River.
One half is about the Warlawoon Country my dad Rammie Ramsay country my beautiful old artist dad who left his memory with me to carry on after him.
Trees
Camping areas
water holes
hills
and traditional stories of his mum and dad and their parents and so on he told me.
The other half is Bow River County.
My family has a strong history of this place. My grandfather Timmy Timms (Snr) named the dams here redrock damn, and the redrock itself called redrock and the damn near the hill is called marringarnji dam, meaning where dingos come to drink water with the horses and cattle.
My families has drovin’ histories and traditional stories both.
The road is called the old Wyndham road back in the early days. In nowadays it’s been graded.
My ancestors used to live anywhere here, at camping areas near the river beds. They used to live off the land eating kangaroo, porcupine, all sorts of bush foods.
We are so blessed God gave us boundaries to keep and to hold our future generation children to have and to hold.
This painting is about Joomena’s Ngaginyji Joomooloony, her boab tree. “The boab tree we are born under becomes our special tree; this one is Ngaginyji Joomooloony, which means ‘My Boabtree'”
Eileen Bray Joomena was born on the side of a dusty highway along the road to Ord River and next to the creek that runs into Birnuwun (Alice Downs), Joomoon’s traditional county. The family had ventured out on a fishing trip when Eileen’s mum went into labour and was ‘laid down, with her sisters in law’, under a big boab tree and gave birth. The women stayed under the boab for a week, as is customary, and until ready to go back to camp.
