Yirrajarra – That’s my country, that’s my place, that’s my camp
“Yirrajarra, it’s a yinta (permanent spring) in Warman Country. That’s my camp, that’s my place, that’s my Country. Home there,”
– Mitutu Mabel Wakarta (dec.)
Yirrajarra comprises of two soaks situated near Lake Auld, and north of Tiwa (Canning Stock Route Well 26). As the site of a continuous source of good fresh water, surrounded by plentiful puri (shade), Yirrajarra was an important semi-permanent camping ground during the pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) era.
Yirrajarra is Mabel Mitutu’s birthplace, and as such an integral part of her ngurra (home Country, camp). Having walked all of this country with her family in her youth, Mabel Mitutu here depicts her knowledge of the region and its features in detail. Physical characteristics of the land and the location of its resources are portrayed alongside the Jukurrpa (Dreaming) narratives associated with this area.
During the pujiman period, Martu would traverse very large distances annually in small family groups, moving seasonally from water source to water source, and hunting and gathering bush tucker as they went. At this time knowledge of water sources was critical for survival, and today Martu Country is still defined in terms of the location and type of water. Each of the hundreds of claypans, rockholes, waterholes, soaks and springs found in the Martu desert homelands is known by name, location, quality and seasonal availability through real life experience and the recounting of Jukurrpa (dreaming) narratives.
