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Kungkarangkalpa / Seven Sisters

Kungkarangkalpa means the Seven Sisters. This is an extensive creation story that relates to the Pleiades constellation in the southern hemisphere. The story traverses Australia taking on different forms, however local women are privy to the part of the story which takes place in the country near Ernabella. For this part of the story, the man called Nyiru is chasing the sisters as he wants to sleep with the oldest sister. All the younger sisters are deeply afraid of him. As Nyiru is chasing the sisters, he tries to catch them by using magic to turn himself into the most tempting bush tomatoes for the sisters to eat and the most beautiful ili (fig) tree for the sisters to camp under. However, the sisters are aware of his magic and go hungry and run through the night rather than be caught by Nyiru. Eventually, to escape Nyiru, the sisters fly into the sky where they turn into stars and form the constellation.

Categories: Ernabella Arts Inc.

Name: Amy Scotty


Language: Pitjantjatjara


Community: Amata


Biography:

Amy was born in Alice Springs and grew up in Amata. Her grandfather was Ginger Wikilyiri who passed away in his home community of Pukatja in 2023. Her great grandmother was Eddie Curtis from Nyapari and she told Amy the story of the Seven Sisters.

Amy started painting at school and enjoyed it so she went to the art centre in Amata in 2018 and started working there. Amy is also a very skilled arts worker. Amy is currently  living in Pukatja with her son who was born in 2014.


© the artist / art centre