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Kunronj (Freshwater Story)

This design depicts important manme (food) sources from freshwater environments on Abigail’s country and the implements used to gather these items.  The kunkaninjor digging stick featured in the design is used to dig for wayuk (waterlily) roots in billabongs, which are eaten fresh from the water or cooked on an open fire. The kunkaninj is also used to find and dig freshwater komrdawh (northern snake-necked turtle) that hibernate on the floodplains during the dry season.

Various fish species including the birlmu (barramundi), as shown here, are hunted with a spear or trapped inside a woven fish trap. This manme is carried within kunmadj (woven bags), which are made with fibres from the pandanus tree or sedge grasses, then enjoyed together by the family back at camp.

Categories: Babbarra Women’s Centre

Name: Abigail Namundja

Language: Kuninjku

Community: Maningrida

Biography:

Abigail has been working with Bábbarra Designs since 2012. She comes from a strong line of talented artists, her mother is Jennifer Wurrkidj and her grandmother was the late Helen Lanyinwanga. Three generations of women from Abigail’s family worked together at Bábbarra Women’s Centre, sharing knowledge and creating new designs together.

Abigail's totems are Gungura (Spiral wind) and Kunwardde (Stone country rocks). She is a talented lino printer and loves to print bush flower designs, Buluwana, yawkyawk and marebu. 

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