August 2025

Minyma Kutjarra – (Two Sisters)

‘Minyma Kutjara’ (Two Ladies), is a popularly depicted story by women from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. The painting has different chapters depending on where the artist is from and the inherited story of their ancestors.  we see the ladies sitting together at their camp situated among the sand hills. They are surrounded by an abundance of desert flowers and fruits. The painting is a reflection on the lush nature of the land that was so many years ago. When there is rain coming to the lands it makes everyone so pleased as it indicates good foraging and hunting.

Kuniya and wati Liru

The Mutitjulu Waterhole, Uluru was formed by the two ancestral beings Kuniya, the woma python, and Liru, the poisonous snake. The Kuniya and Liru story occurs on different sides of Uluru, but their deadly battle took place near Mutitjulu Waterhole.

The Kuniya woman came from far away to the west to hatch her children at Uluru. There are land formations and underground caves said to be formed by Kuniya on her way through the Ngaanyatjarra Lands to Uluru. She carried her eggs strung around her neck like a necklace and brought them to rest at Kuniya Piti on Uluru’s north-east corner. There she left the eggs on the ground. Kuniya camped at Taputji and hunted in the nearby sandhills. As she left and re-entered her camp, she formed deep grooves in the rock.

One day news of her nephew’s, (a young woma python or Kuniya), death on the other side of Uluru reached his aunt. He had enraged a group of Liru, or poisonous brown snakes, who travelled from the south-west to take revenge on him. They saw him resting at the base of Uluru and rushed upon him, hurling their spears. Many spears hit the rock face with such force that they pierced it, leaving a series of round holes. The poor Kuniya, outnumbered, dodged what he could until his death.

Kuniya, overcome with grief and anger, summoned all her physical and magical powers to avenge the death of her young nephew. She raced along the curves of the rock to Mutitjulu Waterhole, where she confronted one of the Liru warriors, who mocked her grief and rage.

Kuniya began a fearsome dance of immense power and magic. As she moved towards the Liru warrior she scooped up sand and rubbed it over her body. Her rage was so great that it spread like a poison engulfing the area. She took up her wana, (digging stick), and struck the head of the Liru. Her anger was now beyond restraint, and she hit him again and again across the head until he was dead. As fell down he dropped his shield.

Nearby Mutitjulu Waterhole, Kuniya herself remains as a sinuous black line on the eastern wall. The blows she struck are two deep cracks on the western wall, and the Liru’s shield is now a large boulder where it fell.

Wati kutjara – The goanna men

This is the story of two powerful magicians who came to the Ngaanyatjarra Lands from far away to the west;

‘These two men are always together, always camping together. They do all sorts of tricks when they travel across the lands as they stop from place to place. When they reached ‘Wirtapi Wara’ (Long Black or Blackstone Range) they argued about which way to go around. One went around the south side and the other the north side.

At a distance it seemed they didn’t recognise each other or perhaps they were just pretending not to recognise each other! It is also said that at Papulankutja they tricked each other by changing their appearance at the same time so they had no chance to recognise each other. The name Papulankutja comes from the Ngaanyatjarra word meaning, ‘to stare without recognising each other’.

Kungkarrangkalpa (Seven Sisters)

‘Kungkarrangkalpa’ (The Seven Sisters or Pleaides) is significant Tjukurrpa (dreamtime). Its origins you may be familiar with in astronomy and its connection to ‘Wati Nyiru’ (Magic Man or Orion).  The roots of this dreaming stems across indigenous groups around the world. The Australian Aboriginal songline is one part to the whole dreaming which can be traced all around the world. The ladies of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands depict their significant chapter and understanding of the journey of the sisters. The different versions of this story depend on where you live and the significance’s of local Tjukurrpa places.

Nyiru fell in love with the sisters but he was of the wrong skin group to marry, but he still pursued them on their journey. The sisters travel across the land to escape Nyiru’s unwanted attentions, but he is persistent and always finds them. There are significant land forms which can be sited today that evidence this dreaming. As Nyiru is chasing the sisters he tries to catch them by using magic to turn into the most tempting kampurarrpa (bush tomato) and the most beautiful Yirli (wild fig tree), for them to eat and camp under. However, the sisters are knowledgeable of his magic and too clever for Nyiru who they outwit again and again. They go hungry and run through the night rather than be caught by him. As the journey continues, Nyiru gets so frustrated at the wit of the sisters that he uses his magic to make the oldest sister sick to try and get closer to her. The other sisters rescue the big sister and nurse her back to health. It is said he also captures the youngest sister, but with the help of the oldest sister, she escapes back to her sisters who are waiting for her. Eventually, the sisters fly into the sky to escape Nyiru, forming the constellation. Nyiru felt lonely, longing for the sisters who were so far away. Nyiru used his magic to go to the sky, forever in pursuit.

Wati kutjara – The goanna men

This is the story of two powerful magicians who came to the Ngaanyatjarra Lands from far away to the west;

‘These two men are always together, always camping together. They do all sorts of tricks when they travel across the lands as they stop from place to place. When they reached ‘Wirtapi Wara’ (Long Black or Blackstone Range) they argued about which way to go around. One went around the south side and the other the north side.

At a distance it seemed they didn’t recognise each other or perhaps they were just pretending not to recognise each other! It is also said that at Papulankutja they tricked each other by changing their appearance at the same time so they had no chance to recognise each other. The name Papulankutja comes from the Ngaanyatjarra word meaning, ‘to stare without recognising each other’.

Sharon Doolan – My Grandfather’s Country

This painting depicts Sharon’s Grandfather’s country. This place is in the Witura National Park on the Northern Territory and South Australia border just south of Finke. This area is a beautiful place with plenty of water. There are many trees, lakes and swimming holes.