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Dakarra (cockle) – Helen Kaminski

Dakarra is the Burrara Gun-nartpa word for a type of cockle shell with prominant scaled ribs and an orange colour. This is part of a diet of shellfish which has been enjoyed by people whose country lies on the saltwater estuaries at the opening of  rivers throughout Arnhem Land.

Elizabeth Wullunmingu’s mother country is Djunawunya, near Gupunga on the Bligh river. This is saltwater country. Her design Dakarra represents a songline for this particular type of edible shellfish and the fishing lifestyle that is enjoyed by her people. 

Elizabeth’s grandfather Frank Gurrmanamana was seen in the documentary ‘Waiting For harry’  1978  by Ronin films which is filmed on Elizabeth’s mother country, Djunawunya. In this documentary, the late Frank Gurrmanamana is preparing the final mortuary ceremonies for his brother who died six years before. Central to the ceremonies is Harry Diama, the senior blood-relative of the deceased man, but Harry lives in Maningrida and is pre-occupied with a pending court-case there involving his son.

https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/video/1068702275809/Waiting-For-Harry

 

Categories: Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation

Name: Elizabeth Wullunmingu

Language: Burarra

Community: Maningrida

Biography:

‘I drew on the inspiration of my mothers designs.’ Elizabeth Wullunmingu 2021

Elizabeth was born in Darwin. She started sewing and designing at Bábbarra in 2010 and is a key member of the sewing team. Elizabeth’s intricate lino print designs depict the marine life from her salt water homeland of Gupanga.

Elizabeth says her artistic talent comes from her late mother Doris Gingingara who painted textile prints for Desert Designs in the 1980's. Elizabeth has recently started drawing in texta in a style that reflect the colourful line work made famous by her mother.

Elizabeth designed and sewed outfits for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Her screen print design Rrugurrgurda (Mud Crab) was part of the successful KipandCo x Babbarra homewares collection in 2020.

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