The Wandjina is the creator spirit that belongs the Wororra, Ngarinyin and Wunumbul people. He is the one that created everything and gave us our culture, law and songs. He even gave us the dreaming/ totem of each child before they are born. Wandjina is the creator of all food on the land and in the sea. He’s the one who gave us Jaiya.
Name: Gabriella Barunga
Language: Ngarinyin
Community: Mowanjum
Biography:
Gabriella commenced her career as an artist in 1999 at Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre. Gabriella ‘likes to paint every day. Painting is my work and my way of telling a story. I paint the Wandjina from the Wanalirri mob.' Gabriella is a Ngarinyin woman. She grew up with her parents Biddy Ambi and Raphael Dolbyin at Bungarun, the leprosarium 10km's out of Derby. She was also cared for by Jack and Biddy Dale, 'they used to take us bush in the holidays. We went fishing and hunting kangaroos, snakes, turtles, and crocodiles.'
Gabriella has visited the caves where the Wandjinas were first painted. 'I thought- these are my ancestors. It’s amazing.' Gabriella’s first heard about traditional law and ancestral stories through her mother and uncles.
Gabriella confides that Gordon her partner 'helped me paint.' To the question why paint? Gabriella replies that she does 'to keep the culture going, keep it strong, keep it going for the children and grandchildren.'
The exploration of etching is a new medium for Gabriella as she has always been a painter.
Three Tribes, Dumbi & Ungud (barn owl & totem). The three tribes are the Worrora, Wunumbul and Ngarinyin. The three tribes represent the Wandjina who made them what they are today. The three tribes are Read more…
Wandjina and Father God are the same (Wandjina Ge Irraaya Gaaddangaadaa Gajirnma) Irraaya arri arranangka anjoldanya Father for us in heaven ngunngumba mamaa guninya your name sacred let it be bandaya ngunjanangka gunyangkunyaal country for Read more…
Jarlarloyni Jarlarloyni is a female Wandjina that married Namarali one of the main three Wandjinas that created the laws, country and language for the Ngarinyin, Worrorra, and Wunumbal people. Namarali was originally from Ngarinyin country Read more…