MY FATHER COUNTRY
This is a big waterhole. Rain runs into the waterhole. This is good water. My people and my family lives in the desert for many years when rain season comes the waterholes use to be full by rain.
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Karram Muddu (whirlpool story)
This is my Ungud (totem). I was named for this whirlpool: Karram Muddu, located near Augustus Island. My father, Sam Woolagoodja, named me. The Warndum Story goes that there’s a woman spearing for a snake in that saltwater whirlpool.
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BILLABONG COUNTRY
The roots of the lily pad can be roasted and eaten. They are found in billabongs and springs and have a beautiful flower.
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My Country – Heather Pitjara Corbett
“I like going hunting for bush tucker and bush medicine flowers. I like to see the different landscapes of this country and watch the seasons change. The landscape reminds me of my parents and my grandparents. This is where they would hunt too” – Heather
The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint ‘altyerr’ dreaming stories, the artists paint their country where those stories sit.
This painting shows the layered landscape of Alyawarr, Central Australia. Knowing your country is an important part of living in a remote community like Ampilatwatja. Knowing when and where to go hunting and gathering, knowing where there is ‘soakage’ (where you can dig for water), travelling with family for ceremonies, and maintaining a connection with the land.
