Mili is a stinging tree which is often covered in Yunga, green ants. My painting is about the Yunga building their nest on the leaves of the Mili.
My grandmother was a Nyungkul woman, and she lived in Wujal Wujal. In Nyungkul the language name for the Green ant is Yunga. My grandmother taught us how to collect it for medicine and to eat when people are sick with flu.
Mili, stinging tree is my totem.
Name: Sonya Creek
Language: Kuku Nyungkul
Community: Wujal Wujal
Biography:
My grandfather Alec Creek is a Kaanju man from Coen and my grandmother is Kuku Nyungkul from Shipton Flat. I have lived in Wujal Wujal for 16 years and have just been making artwork for a few years now at our art centre. I love it because some of my family members encourage me to do artwork. I have artists from both sides of my family.
The Mili (Stinging Tree) is my totem. A lot of my artwork is inspired by the Mili which can be found along the river. Mili is also home to Yunga (Green Ants), building their nests out of the Mili leaf. My Grandmother taught us how to collect it for medicine and to eat when people are sick with flu. I am also inspired by the animals around the river such as Kunjuri (Cassowary), Dawa Dawa (Magpie Geese), Kudi (Barramundi) and Mukirr (Mud muscle).
Bulbuji I’m Kuku-Yalanji woman. My mum is from Wujal Wujal and my dad is from Laura, Chillagoe and Cooktown. For us Bama (Kuku-Yalanji people), we can’t touch bulbuji or wurarr-wurarr. They are sacred. Bulbuji start Read more…
Dikal, Bird There are many Dikal’s living on our bubu, country. I love camping with my families, anywhere, down the beach or at the river and listening to the Dikal’s singing.
Kababina & Kunjuri I am a Nyungul woman. My art depicts cultural, historical and contemporary stories from my bubu (Country) located in the Helensvale and Shipton’s Flat areas in Far North Queensland. I wanted to Read more…