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Punmu Jurnukaja

Punmu is an Aboriginal community located 670km North-East of Newman, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Created during the return to Country movement of the 1980s, with the recognition of Martu land rights and native title, the community was named after a nearby jukurrpa (dreamtime) story.

Punmu community sits on the edge of a large salt lake known as Nyayartakujarra, or Lake Dora. The lake runs south into Karlamilyi River. There are many yinta (permanent water sources) in Punmu’s nearby vicinity including Wilarra, Rawa, Yilyara, Jilajila and Tuutuu.

Punmu features in several jukurrpa narratives. Of particular importance for the Warnman people is the story of the ‘Jila Kujarra’ (Two Snakes). These snakes travelled through Parnngurr, Punkulyi, Yulpu, and Winukurrujunu, forming lakes, claypans, rocks, rockholes, waterholes and soaks as they went. The powerful elder of the two snakes, Wirnpa, finally stopped at the site of Wirnpa, named for him. The young snake kept on travelling until coming to Punmu waterholes Rawa and Yilyarra, making that Country his ngurra (home camp). Another jukurrpa story describes the formation of Nyayartakujarra as occurring when two travelling snakes were first sung to sleep and then killed by magic men. The snakes’ fat was said to have burned away and melted into Nyayartakujarra.

Bianca Simpson

Name: Bianca Simpson

Language: Manyjilyjarra

Community: Punmu

Biography:

“I was born in Parrngurr, Cotton Creek, in the old clinic there. I grew up there and then I moved to Punmu for a long time. I still live there in Punmu, but sometimes I come to all the communities.

My grandmother taught me to paint, Muni Rita Simpson (dec.). Then I tried my best to keep on painting. I paint about the Punmu waterholes like Wirlarra (Wilarra), Rawa, Tiwa (Canning Stock Route Well 26), and Juntu-Juntu (Canning Stock Route Well 30). I love painting about sand dunes, springs, waterholes and clay pans. It means a lot to me; it helps me look after my Country.

Sometimes I do work here at Martumili; stretch canvas, fill the colours, and sometimes help the oldies.”

– Bianca Simpson

 

Bianca Simpson is a young Martu artist who grew up between Parrngurr and Punmu. Today she continues to live between these communities and Parnpajinya (Newman). She was taught to paint by her late grandmother, Muni Rita Simpson, a highly respected founding Martumili artist. Deeply inspired by her desert home and its waterholes, springs and sand dunes, Bianca’s practice reflects her strong connection to Country and commitment to its care. In 2022, she was awarded the Emerging Young Artist Prize at the Cossack Art Awards, and in 2025, Bianca collaborated with global clothing designer and manufacturer ‘Cotton on’ as part of the Cotton On x Co Opt Club to create a collection showcasing her work.