111582159496

Published by on

Kiriwirri

Kiriwirri is a soak located in the Percival Lakes region of Western Australia’s Great Sandy Desert. The site was a popular camping area during the pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) era due to its reliable water source and the abundance of minyarra (bush onion) found in the area. Kiriwirri is also a site visited by the Wati Kujarra (Two Goanna Men), ancestral beings responsible for the creation of many land features in Martu Country and beyond in a key Jukurrpa (Dreaming) narrative. The Wati Kujarra existed as half men, half goanna who travelled, hunted, and burned Country together.

During the pujiman period, Martu would traverse very large distances annually in small family groups, moving seasonally from water source to water source, and hunting and gathering bush tucker as they went. At this time, knowledge of water sources was critical for survival, and today Martu Country is still defined in terms of the location and type of water. Each of the hundreds of claypans, rockholes, waterholes, soaks and springs found in the Martu desert homelands is known by name, location, quality and seasonal availability through real life experience and the recounting of Jukurrpa narratives. 

Soaks, or soakwaters, derive their name from the manner in which their waters generally seep into the sand from below stores, sometimes as part of an ephemeral river or creek. Soaks were an especially important source of water during the pujiman era, being the most dependable water source in times of drought. Water was obtained from soaks by scooping away the sand with a piti (timber bowls used for carrying food and water) until clear water gathered at the base of the hole, sometimes at a depth of several metres. 

Categories: Shire of East Pilbara (Martumili Artists)

Name: Derrick Butt

Community: Parnngurr

Biography:

“I ask[ed my] brother [and] my grandmother, and I was asking them where my grandmother born and which Country, so I could paint it. And they told me some stories and I started painting, because my grandmother left his [her] country when [s]he was young and didn’t manage to get back to his [her] Country. So I wanted to paint part of his [her] history, as his [her] grandson, to tell people where my grandmother’s born, and which Country.

One day I went to Perth on the plane. And I saw the Country – I was on the window side - and I saw the Country, how different it looks when you’re walking on the land to when you’re in a plane looking down, so that gave me an idea, and that’s how I created my art. And I love painting bird’s eye view, like looking down on Country.

Sometimes you can see the land is not always brown and black. I like mixing my colours, brighter colours. That’s how I see the land, looking down on it. And people love my paintings, and how I do art. And I feel blessed that people love my art, and this is my story through my grandmother. She’s not around but I can carry her story, carry her legacy through my art.”

 - Derrick Butt

Derrick was born in Derby in the Western Australian Kimberley, but moved to Parnngurr Aboriginal Community at a young age to stay with his grandmother’s side of the family. He began sketching in school at Parnngurr, soon developing a strong love of art, and then learning to paint. In his late teens he moved to Newman where he started to paint again, and began to showcase his work through Martumili Artists. 

Derrick’s work depicts the site of Kulyakartu in his grandmother’s Country. Kulyakartu is located in the far north of the Martu homelands, near the Percival Lakes region of Western Australia’s Great Sandy Desert. Kulyakartu is mostly grass Country where there is very good hunting. In particular parnajarrpa (goanna), wild cats, and lunki (witchetty grub) are found in abundance here. 

 

Related Posts

Shire of East Pilbara (Martumili Artists)

111582374402

Jartuti “Jartuti water place east of Parnngurr. In pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) days old people walked and hunted there, we went there recently with KJ (Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa) ranger mob, lovely place.”   – Beverley Rogers Jartuti is Read more…

Shire of East Pilbara (Martumili Artists)

111582376687

Yilyara Yilyara is one of several frequently visited yinta (permanent springs) located in the Country immediately surrounding Punmu Aboriginal community. Yilyara is located immediately east of Nyayartakujarra (Lake Dora), a vast and culturally significant salt Read more…

Shire of East Pilbara (Martumili Artists)

111582376686

Pirrkili “We camped there, lots of water in that claypan. Old people camp, passing through, going to Karlamilyi. Warman people passing through. From this place they go to Mulunyjarra (rockhole)” – Elizabeth Toby Pirrkili is Read more…

© the artist / art centre