October 2025

Walu 99yr lease

Painting by Winston Mitchell This painting was directed by Winston Mitchell to commemorate the 99-year cultural lease of the Walu site. Walu Rockhole, north of Papulankutja (Blackstone), is an important water source in the Gibson Desert and a central meeting place for Yarnangu families. The site connects with surrounding Tjukurrpa (Dreaming) places and remains vital for cultural practices, knowledge sharing, and community identity. In recent years Winston has worked with the Ngaanyatjarra Land and Culture Rangers to strengthen cultural access to Walu. At the 40-year anniversary of the lease, he helped lead a gathering that grew from 30 people to more than 130, including community members and Ngaanyatjarra Council leaders. This painting celebrates not just the site itself but the recognition of Yarnangu custodianship over generations to come. The 99-year lease secures community access to Walu and its surrounding Dreaming sites, ensuring these connections are protected, celebrated, and passed on.

The boy who turned into wind (pirriya) at Walu rockhole

This story is about a young boy who had no parents and was neglected.

There were two men (the boy’s uncles) and one young boy camping at Walu Rockhole, an important water site in the Gibson Desert, northwest of the tri-state border between Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia. 

The men went hunting and the boy stayed behind waiting. The men returned with an emu and pulled out its heart. The boy was holding the heart and blood spilt out onto the rocks. He ran away with the heart and turned into a big whirlwind. The big whirlwind. came up and swept the families away. Today you can still see the emu’s blood trail where it stained the rocks.

Walu rock hole is a special place north of Papulankutja (Blackstone) where traditionally Yarnangu families would gather when water was available in the holes found in a flat rocky area.

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.