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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: Joy Nginana Lyons

Language: Ngaanyatjarra

Community: Blackstone

Biography:

Joy is an emerging artist with Papulankutja Artists having had her first, official exhibition opportunity with Revealed 2022 at Fremantle Art Centre. Joy is a dedicated and humble artist wiling to explore visual representations of sharing her family's Tjukurrpa (Dreamtime). In April 2022, Joy was nominated as a finalist for the Telstra NATSIAA awards which will bring greater recognition of her practice and contribution to the maintenance of Tjukurrpa in the West of the Ngaanytjarra Lands.

Joy is one of seven siblings, three of whom also are practicing artists and leaders in the next generation of Papulankutja Artists; Mamie, Paula and Megan. Joy and her siblings grew up travelling on foot through out the Ngaanyatjarra Lands with their mother's country being Wanarn and their father's country in Yanka, north of Blackstone. During her childhood her family travelled throughout the Ngaanyatjara and Anangu Pitjantjatjarra, Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands visiting relatives and maintaining cultural obligations. Her mother, Edith Lyons, (a highly regarded painter) taught Joy and her siblings Ngaanyatjarra heritage, law and culture. 

Joy still lives in Blackstone today with her daughter Milliane. Joy loves going out bush with the ranger and travelling her country. 

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