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Diwan (Scrub Turkey)

Diwan are bush food – an important source of meat. We also eat the eggs. They are a delicacy. The male bird looks after the nest and will not go far, as he has to protect the nest from bush goanna’s. If they come around, he will send out an alarm call to other Diwan to alert therm. The nesting time for Diwan is September to December. The bush goanna knows when the eggs will be ready to hatch. When the goannas start hanging around, this is a good sign that the eggs are ready. We dig for eggs with digging sticks or by hand. The nest is very deep and when you can feel the warmth with your hands, you know that the eggs are close-by. The eggs are very good for health and make you strong.

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225182337898

Diwan (Scrub Turkey)

Diwan are bush food – an important source of meat. We also eat the eggs. They are a delicacy. The male bird looks after the nest and will not go far, as he has to protect the nest from bush goanna’s. If they come around, he will send out an alarm call to other Diwan to alert therm. The nesting time for Diwan is September to December. The bush goanna knows when the eggs will be ready to hatch. When the goannas start hanging around, this is a good sign that the eggs are ready. We dig for eggs with digging sticks or by hand. The nest is very deep and when you can feel the warmth with your hands, you know that the eggs are close-by. The eggs are very good for health and make you strong.

By , ago

225182337895

Yindili (Kingfisher)

The Kingfisher, known as Yindili in Kuku Yalanji language, is according to our culture one of the significant messenger birds.  The Kingfisher will let us know when to expect a visit from families living in another community, And when we see a Kingfisher close by, we know that something good will soon happen in our personal life.

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225182337894

Yindili (Kingfisher)

The Kingfisher, known as Yindili in Kuku Yalanji language, is according to our culture one of the significant messenger birds.  The Kingfisher will let us know when to expect a visit from families living in another community, And when we see a Kingfisher close by, we know that something good will soon happen in our personal life.

By , ago

225182337891

Yindili (Kingfisher)

The Kingfisher, known as Yindili in Kuku Yalanji language, is according to our culture one of the significant messenger birds.  The Kingfisher will let us know when to expect a visit from families living in another community, And when we see a Kingfisher close by, we know that something good will soon happen in our personal life.

By , ago

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Wirrigirrig

Wirrigirrig – the Victoria River flows from the lower left across to the centre right joined by Goongoolooloo – the Wickham River from the upper left. This is an area of the artist’s traditional country and in naming it states his knowledge of and therefore traditional ownership of that country. Left of the river junction is Big Mulligan Lagoon – Yallarungmyi. In the lower right is Mock Billabong – Yadbiyi near Yarriyiy creek. The small creeks flowing through this billabong are overflow creeks dring the wet season. In the upper right is Anderson Billabong – Giminiyi. Beside it is Woolnarmii Spring then Lizard Spring – Wangoo and Crawford Creek – Mandaloongoo. The red ochre areas are the surrounding hils and ridges. The areas at the centre of the painting are open plain country.

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My Grandmothers Country – Denise Ngwarraye Bonney

The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint ‘altyerr’ dreaming stories. The artists paint their country where those stories belong.

Denise paints ‘Tijamburra’, her Grandmothers country.

“This is my Mothers Mothers country, out near Canteen Creek, we go hunting  for wild onions, goannas, echidnas and sugar bag honey in the trees. I like to hunt in my country, there is water all year round even if it look dry, we follow the bird tracks to know where to dig and then we find water.


This painting is after rain, many grasses are out, but the riverbed is still sandy.”


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My Father’s Country – Rita Pitjara Beasley

“This is my Father’s country.

This place is our hunting place. I always go with my daughters and their children, I show them this place and teach them about the swampy country. We hunt for goannas, bush potato, bush tomato and after the big rain the bush medicine is picked and the roots are dug up to be used.

It is important as my mother taught me this and now I teach my family.”

The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint ‘altyerr’ dreaming stories. The artists paint their country where those stories belong.

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Antarrengeny – Edie Kemarre Holmes

 Antarrengeny is Edie’s country and also her Father’s.

In this painting Edie depicts Antarrengeny, “when there has been no rain and the land shimmers like jewels. It is the open flat country, after a bushfire, when only the young grasses and the trees are growing and where there is good hunting.”

Edie has a strong connection to Antarrengeny. She gave birth to two of her daughters ‘out bush’ on this land. It is her country and she loves it dearly.

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