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Mili & Yunga

I am Kuku Nyungkul from Shipton Flat area and have spent a lot of time camping out on Country collecting and hunting bush foods with my family.

My painting depicts my totem, the Mili (Stinging Tree Dendrocnide moroides) and Yunga (Green Ants).

My grandmother is from Wujal Wujal where the Stinging Tree is known as Mili and my grandfather is from Coen where it is known as Appun.

The stinging tree has leaves which stings when you have contact with it, the leaves have hairs which get stuck to your skin if touched. The best medicine to use if you get stung is tobacco or your own urine.

My grandparents taught us children since we were a young age to collect Yunga for bush medicine to help get rid of the flu and runny nose

Categories: Bana Yirriji Art Centre

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).

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