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Published by CompNet Systems on

Barnkabarra (Mud Crabs)

This design tells the story of Elizabeth’s homeland – a dreaming place, a good dreaming place with plenty of Barnkabarra (Mud Crabs). Elizabeth’s homeland lies east of Maningrida, at the mouth of Blyth river. This country is known for a large spiritual mud crab, which lives in the area.

Many families go and collect crabs to eat there with long sticks, or collect directly from the shores. Mud crabs hide in the muddy bottoms of estuaries and mangrove forests in areas surrounding Maningrida. After a king tide, a large cyclical tide which bring the crabs out from the mangroves, it is a good time to find crabs.

Barnkabarra (mud crabs) in Kuninjku language, or Rrugurrgurda (mud crabs) in the Burarra language, are good baladji (bush food in Burarra) and can be caught all year round. They are put on the fire to cook and they are ready when they turn a bright orange colour.

Categories: Babbarra Women’s Centre

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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