Kurriyala (Carpet Snake) The carpet snake used to be an important food animal for our ancestors. They wrapped the meat in native ginger leaves and cooked it on the hot coals of the ground oven. They also used the skin to make head bands or skillfully sewed blankets to keep the Read more…
Kubilaw Noeraw Dhangal The lines depicted on the dhangal (dugong) show the traditional cuts that are used by Maubiay. The name of this cut is kaiar rou dun and is used to ensure that all of the meat and precious fat is obtained and shared amongst the community. The tear-shaped Read more…
Waru Waru (sea turtle) is an important totem for Torres Strait people. When the little brown jelly fish come down from the estuaries like a brown river thousands of turtles gather to feast on them. We don’t hunt the waru then because their intestines will be filled with jellyfish and Read more…
Githalay Karumuy Azam Zarram Zenadh-Kes families love to get together with family at our beach camps to go hunting for food in the mangroves. The boys use the spear to hunt fish and crabs while the girls look for muscles and pipi shells. Once we have gathered enough food for Read more…
Sowurraw Pamay (Digging Wild Yam) My image Sowurraw Pamay depicts a boy digging for wild yams. I lost my father when I was young so my mother brought us up. My older brother’s taught me the traditional men’s business like hunting and fishing, but I learnt all about gathering plants Read more…
The boy who turned into wind (pirriya) at Walu rockhole This story is about a young boy who had no parents and was neglected. There were two men (the boy’s uncles) and one young boy camping at Walu Rockhole, an important water site in the Gibson Desert, northwest of the Read more…
Bawáliba (Stone Country Mimih) ‘Bawáliba is the djang (Dreaming) of my mother and my uncles. They are good spirits, they protect us and they recognise families. They are really tall- just like human beings, like us. They dance late at night and have a lot of hair. In olden times, Read more…
Garriwa (Sea Turtle) A detailed lino print design depicting a sea turtle surrounded by sea shells. Elizabeth is from the Burrarra language group and her homeland is Gupanga, Arnhem Land.
Kunmadj Kunmadj is the Kuninjku term for large woven collecting baskets, known as dillybags. They are often made from the burney vine (Malaisia scandens), a strong, pliable plant that grows along the ground and into the canopy of monsoon vine thickets. The baskets are used to collect a variety of heavy foods, such as fish Read more…
