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Published by CompNet Systems on

Wati kutjara – The goanna men

This is the story of two powerful magicians who came to the Ngaanyatjarra Lands from far away to the west;

‘These two men are always together, always camping together. They do all sorts of tricks when they travel across the lands as they stop from place to place. When they reached ‘Wirtapi Wara’ (Long Black or Blackstone Range) they argued about which way to go around. One went around the south side and the other the north side.

At a distance it seemed they didn’t recognise each other or perhaps they were just pretending not to recognise each other! It is also said that at Papulankutja they tricked each other by changing their appearance at the same time so they had no chance to recognise each other. The name Papulankutja comes from the Ngaanyatjarra word meaning, ‘to stare without recognising each other’.

Categories: Papulankutja Artists

Name: Maimie Nginytja Butler

Language: Ngaanyatjarra

Community: Papulankutja (Blackstone)

Biography:

Maimie was born just outside of Mantamaru (Jameson) and grew up in Papulankuta (Blackstone). She is the eldest of seven siblings. She spent much of her childhood in the Benson camp with Kantjupayi Benson. Later she went with the Benson family to Warburton. Maimie is a member of the Mitchell family who are custodians of the country that lies north of Papulankutja along the Walu road. It is a place of many stories and important cultural places. Mamie married Mark Butler from Tjukurla and spends time travelling extensively throughout the Ngaanyatjarra Lands to visit family, for cultural events and bush trips.

Maimie has fulfilled many leadership roles including as Papulankutja Artists Chairperson, Chairperson and member of the Board of Directors for NPY Women’s Council and Deputy Chairperson, Blackstone Community Council. She has worked with Utikulintja at NPY Womens Council Mental Health.

Over the years she has worked in education, health, the community store and the art centre.

She is responsible for maintaining many songlines and has a number of Tjukurrpa (dreaming stories) she depicts in her paintings including the perentie and echidna Tjukurrpa. 

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