221776318664

Published by CompNet Systems on

Goonoonoorra

This is my mother’s country and traditional country for Miriwoong people. The name of this place is Goornoonoorra. In my language Miriwong, this name means Big Waters. In the old days we all lived here and walked this country looking for bush tucker. We used to have corroboree at Thethebelung (the Sleeping Buddha) beside Goonoonoorra (the Ord River).In the center of the painting the hill is called Thegoowiyeng – (Kelly’s Knob).My grandparents grew me up near the Nemoowalem ( the Ivanhoe Ranges) and we lived under the boab trees. In this painting you can see the Mirima Community where all the humpy camps are. The town camp is where all the whitefellas who built Kununurra lived. This is where the town houses are today.

Categories: WARINGARRI ABORIGINAL ARTS

Name: AGNES Yamboong ARMSTRONG

Language: Miriwoong

Biography:

Agnes Armstrong's paintings embrace the stories of her childhood years in delightful often naïve interpretations. She shares her memories of growing up on stations, bushlife and the stories taught by her grandparents. Her images connect story, place and childhood memory. "Born beside a billabong on Ivanhoe Station I grew up with old people. They taught me lots about hunting - all the bush foods. I used to work at Ivanhoe station doing housework and gardening. I came to Kununurra and started schooling during the '60s. Before that I had been at the Research Station School. During the '70s I was at the Beagle Bay Mission School. I came back to Kununurra then and got a job cooking for the pensioners in our Mirima Community. I would do the shopping, counting the money for the pensioners and paid their bills. We had a little shop then. I then moved to Dingo Springs where I watched the old people carving boab nuts and I started doing boabs. After that I came back here to Waringarri Arts to do painting. As well I am doing Ministry and bible studies. I have one daughter and three adopted sons and I live in Mirima, stopping in my country for good."

Related Posts

WARINGARRI ABORIGINAL ARTS

221776303903

Black Rock Falls This painting shows Black Rock Falls. During the wet season – flood water time – this was our camp spot. We would camp up on the hillsides to keep dry form the Read more…

WARINGARRI ABORIGINAL ARTS

221776307741

Binjin & Jarnem In this painting the artist represents the billabong country on either side of Moonoomoorrem – the Keep River. Binjin is her mother’s traditional country and Jarnem is her uncle’s country. Only the Read more…

WARINGARRI ABORIGINAL ARTS

221782279194

White Gum Tree The red sap is good medicine to treat skin sores. It is crushed and boiled in water to make it soft, then rubbed on the sore to help with healing. It is Read more…

© the artist / art centre