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Kungkarrangkalpa (Seven Sisters)

‘Kungkarrangkalpa’ (The Seven Sisters or Pleaides) is significant Tjukurrpa (dreamtime). Its origins you may be familiar with in astronomy and its connection to ‘Wati Nyiru’ (Magic Man or Orion).  The roots of this dreaming stems across indigenous groups around the world. The Australian Aboriginal songline is one part to the whole dreaming which can be traced all around the world. The ladies of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands depict their significant chapter and understanding of the journey of the sisters. The different versions of this story depend on where you live and the significance’s of local Tjukurrpa places.

Nyiru fell in love with the sisters but he was of the wrong skin group to marry, but he still pursued them on their journey. The sisters travel across the land to escape Nyiru’s unwanted attentions, but he is persistent and always finds them. There are significant land forms which can be sited today that evidence this dreaming. As Nyiru is chasing the sisters he tries to catch them by using magic to turn into the most tempting kampurarrpa (bush tomato) and the most beautiful Yirli (wild fig tree), for them to eat and camp under. However, the sisters are knowledgeable of his magic and too clever for Nyiru who they outwit again and again. They go hungry and run through the night rather than be caught by him. As the journey continues, Nyiru gets so frustrated at the wit of the sisters that he uses his magic to make the oldest sister sick to try and get closer to her. The other sisters rescue the big sister and nurse her back to health. It is said he also captures the youngest sister, but with the help of the oldest sister, she escapes back to her sisters who are waiting for her. Eventually, the sisters fly into the sky to escape Nyiru, forming the constellation. Nyiru felt lonely, longing for the sisters who were so far away. Nyiru used his magic to go to the sky, forever in pursuit.

Categories: Papulankutja Artists

Name: Sarah Josephine Lane

Language: Ngaanyatjarra

Community: Blackstone

Biography:

Sarah was born in Warburton to mother Freda Lane (nee Forbes) and father Paddy Lane. She has lived most of her life in Papulankutja (Blackstone) apart from schooling in Norseman and then Esperance on the south coast of Western Australia. She lived at Fairhaven whilst attending secondary school.

Her mother was one of the first artists to start painting at the art centre, she started when it was still a Women’s Centre delivering Health and Aged Care (HAC) services. “I was working with my mum, she was painting at HAC. I always watched her, she always made paintings.”

For a long time Sarah looked after her ageing mother in Papulankutja before Freda went to live in Wanarn Nursing Home where she resides now.

Sarah has five adult children who all live in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, three daughters and two sons. Her first husband has passed away and her second husband Lawrence Mitchell is also an artist.

Sarah’s father was from Mantamaru, it was his mother’s country. Her mother was born at Wirrju rockhole just east of Papulankutja and had five sisters from eldest to youngest, Topsy, Doren, Freda, Shirley, May and Stella.

Sarah enjoys making arts and crafts and has been an active tjarnpi (grass) weaver and also makes purnu (wood) carvings and gumnut seed jewellery. Sarah's art practice themes are Seven sisters, Tjitji Kutjara (The story of two boys from the country around Jameson), and Tali (sand hill).

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