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Marapinti (Marrapinti)
“Marapinti, close to Kiwirkurra. That’s my auntie’s ngurra (home Country, camp), her Jukurrpa (Dreaming). Most of that area is sandhill, with a big rock on the side. Very sacred place- no man can go. That’s a woman’s place. The Seven Sisters were there. They still there, they stayed after the Dreamtime. They always dance there, women meeting together. They used to dance like this [motions hands up and down]. There’s a tunnel inside the rocks, and bush tucker [from the Dreamtime] all around there inside, and two women- twins.
Sometimes I go dancing with my daughter there, with the other girls for culture, for learning. The old ladies have to go too- they boss for that Country. Sometimes we go for ranger trips too.”
– Daphne Larry
Marapinti is a rockhole located west of Kiwirrkurra in Western Australia’s Gibson Desert. The site is surrounded by many small rockholes and caves. Marapinti is an important site in the Minyipuru (Kanaputa, Jakulyukulyu, Seven Sisters) Jukurrpa (Dreaming). Minyipuru is a key creation narrative for Martu, Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara people that is associated with the seasonal Pleiades star constellation. Beginning in Roebourne on the west coast of Western Australia, the story morphs in its movement eastward across the land, following a group of women as they walk, dance, and even fly from waterhole to waterhole. As they travel the women camp, sing, wash, dance and gather food, leaving markers in the landscape and creating landforms that remain to this day, such as groupings of rocks and trees, grinding stones and seeds. During the entirety of their journey the women are pursued by a lustful old man, Yurla, although interactions with other animals, groups of men, and spirit beings are also chronicled in the narrative.
Marapinti is the easternmost point visited by the Minyipuru in their journey across Martu Country. As they travelled, singing and dancing towards Pintupi Country, the Minyipuru created waters and landforms. On reaching Marapinti they performed ceremonies and pierced their septum with nose bones, a practice also known as marapinti. Today the Minyipuru can be seen at Marapinti as a group of rocks, sitting up like women.
