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Ngawiya, Sea turtle

The Ngawiya, sea turtle is swimming and having a feed of Wuyul, sea grass.

Caring for Jalanji bubu (sea country), is important for our people. Our family still practice traditional hunting methods as we want our grandchildren to respect and follow the proper ways to protect everything that lives in and around my traditional home lands.

I represent the Jalanji clan which means I am from the seaside area.  My paintings represent stories about the Jalun (sea) and Karrangkal (coral reef).

Categories: Bana Yirriji Art Centre

Name: Betty Sykes

Language: Kuku Yalanji

Community: Wujal Wujal

Biography:

I was born in Cooktown and grew up in the Ayton area.  I went to school at the Bloomfield state school and then to Warrick High School south of Brisbane.

Our family totem is the Eagle. I am from the Jalunji tribe which means from the sea area.

At 17 I worked at the post office and then I met Clyde my partner.

I have 4 children, 2 grown up and 2 at school still. I also look after my sister’s daughter.

I  love painting, making jewellery, and designing patterns to print or paint on textiles. I am inspired by the sea and it's beautiful creatures, a lot of my work depicts Karrangkal (coral), Wuyul (sea grass), Kirrbaji (Dugon) & Ngawiya (Sea Turtle).

Out on country I love looking at the land creatures who are often found near the seaside, such as Walkarr (Goanna) which can be often found at the Weary Bay beach sunning themselves on Kingal (She Oaks). Being out on Country gives me the ideas for my artwork.

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