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Pimurlu

Pimurlu is a rockhole and important women’s site located between Parnngurr Aboriginal community and Karlamilyi River (Rudall River). During the pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) era this was an important Warnman campsite. Surrounding Pimurlu rockhole is a hilly, rocky area featuring circular walka (designs) left by the Minyipuru (Jakulyukulyu, Seven Sisters) in the Jukurrpa (Dreaming). These same designs are painted on women’s bodies and faces for important ceremonial dancing today. 

Minyipuru is a central Jukurrpa narrative for Martu, Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara people that is associated with the seasonal Pleiades star constellation. Relayed in song, dance, stories and paintings, Minyipuru serves as a creation narrative, a source of information relating to the physical properties of the land, and an embodiment of Aboriginal cultural laws. Beginning in Roebourne on the west coast of Western Australia, the story morphs in its movement eastward across the land, following the 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.