Out in the plain after the rain the wild flowers grow and bloom, I see these flowers on my mother’s country.
The plant has pretty flowers, we take them home and show them to the children. They are a beautiful purple, yellow and pink colour.
Donkeys and horses would come and drink from the water at Spring Creek on my father’s country. We would put a bucket in the sand we would filter the water so we could drink it. When I was young girl we would go to Canteen Creek following the track along the hills, we would hunt turkey, emus and kangaroo and we would cut the bark and collect the sap from the sugar bag trees. `
When I go visit my family we drive along Bluebush Road, the road is south of Ali Curung towards the Stuart Highway. The road is sandy.
Bluebush Road has a dam, after Cyclone Tracey hit it was so large that it looked like the sea. This is where I see the big cream coloured bush tomatos, pink desert roses and goannas running across the road. All along the road is a sea of desert roses. The secret yams grow under the ground, you follow the cracks in the dirt and this is where you find the ripe yams. The secrets of the earth we call them.
The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint ‘altyerr’ dreaming stories. The artists paint their country where those stories sit.
When I go visit my family we drive along Bluebush Road, the road is south of Ali Curung towards the Stuart Highway. The road is sandy.
Bluebush Road has a dam, after Cyclone Tracey hit it was so large that it looked like the sea. This is where I see the big cream coloured bush tomatos, pink desert roses and goannas running across the road. All along the road is a sea of desert roses. The secret yams grow under the ground, you follow the cracks in the dirt and this is where you find the ripe yams. The secrets of the earth we call them.
The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint ‘altyerr’ dreaming stories. The artists paint their country where those stories sit.
Fish traps are placed into the river to face the oncoming fish. The woven tunnel traps the fish and prevents their escape. The traps are tapered so when they are submerged in the water, the water pressure wedges them into place. Traditionally, the fish traps are operated at night time.
Status: Stock
Martumili gift cards in a set of 12, featuring artworks by Debra Thomas, Nancy Nyajipayi (Ngarnjapayi) Chapman, Marianne Burnton, May Mayiwalku (May Wokka) Chapman, Lorna Linmurra, Ngamaru Bidu, Kumpaya Girgirba, Derrick Butt, Helen Samson, Gladys Kuru Bidu, Corban Bamba Clause Williams, Judith Anya Samson
Features information about the artist and artwork on the reverse side.
Blank Inside.
Recycled envelope
Made in Australia
The long necked turtle is a dreaming totem for the freshwater people, the Ganalbingu, whose country includes the World Heritage listed, Arafura Wetlands in Central Arnhem Land, Northern Territory
The Yolngu (people) of Arnhem Land 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 Wangga (Creator Beings), long ago close to the beginning of time. These creator beings moved across the country side, shaping the land and implanting in each tract of country, the spiritual life force for the people who were to own it.
These creator spirits took many forms. 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. Some of their major Creative Beings include Banda (freshwater long neck turtle) and Yalman (water lilies).