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Wandjina & Dumbee

The Wandjina is the creator spirit that belongs to us: the Wororra, Ngarinyin and Wunumbul people. He is the one that created everything; our culture, law and songs and even the dreaming of each child before they are born. 

Dumbi is an owl which resides in Ngarinyin country. A boy and a girl teased Dumbi and plucked out his feathers. Dumbi flew to the Wandjina Wodjin who said he would create a large flood to punish the tribe from where the boy and girl came. At a place called Wanalirri, the Wandjina gathered a large flock of brolgas which stomped on a huge black soil plain to create quicksand. The flood came and drowned many people; those who tried to escape were lost in the quicksand. The boy and girl were safe because they were on high ground, they were taken there by a kangaroo, and they traveled on the kangaroo’s tail. A Tata lizard called Ganada warned the Wandjina that the boy and the girl had escaped. The rains and lightning started to chase the boy and girl and they ran to a hollowed out boab tree. Once they were in the tree, the Wandjina closed it up and they were lost for ever. In another version of the story the boy and girl survive the flood and mate to produce a new tribe.

Name: Leah Rinjeewala Umbagai


Language: Worrora


Community: Mowanjum


Biography:

Leah is a Woddordda woman, born in the north-west Kimberley in 1974. Leah’s passion for her art comes from her elders influence and teaching.

She grew up with DW and Mildred Mungulu. Leah’s work reflects her relationships, clan, country and passion for teaching and sharing. She is very active in her community and has seven adopted children.

She works with kids and youth encouraging them to live on country and respect their culture, language and heritage. Leah is a respected senior cultural advisor within her community and others. “I dream when I am in my country. In my dreams my grandfather and grandmother give me songs and dances. I believe the spirits show you things through dreams. I often paint what I dream.”

In addition, to her art practice, Leah is a senior cultural advisor for the Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation and contributed extensively to the development and content of the Mowanjum Museum at the Art and Cultural Centre. She worked at the Art centre from the very beginning and also managed the centre for three years.

Apart from working, in acrylic and ochres she also experiments with other media.

Her work was commissioned many times from several museums and collectors.


© the artist / art centre