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Battle of Wolka Station in Nagambi

This painting represents the battle of Wolka station between pangerang, Ngari illum wurrung, and mebb from Kulin nations, a moon fell out of a tree and the old fullas from kulin wanted warri the Yorta Yorta warrior to teach them magic so they could heal him but Warri was hesitant and didn’t want to teach them his magic in case it was used for the wrong reasons so they had an argument then a trade was broken for woman heart was promised so the tribes went to war. They battled and Kalithaban clan and Wollithiga walked along the river all the way too woka station a broke them up. The warriors threw more than 40 spears and boomerangs at Worri as they threw spears and boomerangs Worri danced through them all using his magic. He moved, danced and dodged the spears. He was only hit once from a spear and struck once from a boomerang. Kalitheban and Wollithiga stopped them and said no more. Business has been done. The old people sat down and then the women come with medicine for those injured in the battle, platypus is pangerang, the turtle is wollithiga and the other turtle is the totem for the yorta yorta. The snake is kalitheban clan. The turtle s breaking them up saying no more, no more. Lay down your spears and boomerangs. It is time for reconciliation and ceremony.

Categories: Kaiela Arts Shepparton

Name: Dylan Charles

Language: Yorta Yorta

Biography:

I grew up in Shepparton and spent many years with family at Cummeragunja (Barmah).  I learnt how to get Bardi Grubs with my Grand Dad but he passed away when I was four years old. I learned the majority of my culture from my Uncle (Mum’s Brother) and he is still teaching me now. I spent a told of time at the Charles/Walker bend of  Dungala (Murry River) second on the left hand side! When I was younger going to the ochre mines was a really spiritual experience for me and also going to the sandhills where our law and initiation took place over time.

I like to interpret from the stars because our Nan told us that the stars are our map and so I like to reference the night sky in my work….. like the Emu in the sky. I like to imagine that I am looking from above – a birds eye view! I also like to mirror that view – the land and sky in the one view in my work, which represents the connection between the sky and the earth.

I look to use ochre in my paintings because it feels more connected to my traditions. It has a spiritual feel for me.

My Uncle Shane has always told me I am from the Dulunyagan bloodline to Ulupna. Our language group in Yorta Yorta and this language is classed as endangered due to colonisation and language and culture being forbidden.

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