Babbarra Women’s Centre

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Djurrung (Sacred bones)

This artwork depicts the Djurrung (bones) inside the lorrkkon (hollow log).

“Our ancestors, when someone passed away, would put them on paperbark tower until all that was left was the bones.

Later, the men would return to that site and collect the bones. They would then fill a painted hollow log with the bones of the deceased, and perform a ceremony. The bones would be hiding inside the hollow log, keeping the passed one safe. After the lorrkkon is filled with bones, it stands up straight in the middle of camp for all to see. The women walk around the lorrkkon dancing, and singing the song that sounds like “biddarr biddarr bidda bidda biddah biddarr.

We can still see the bones from these funerals, in the rock country near Yikarrakal and Manmoyi. You can listen to the birds there singing- they speak to each other. They don’t like balanda (non-indigenous people) going there. But our people, we can call out to the birds and the ancestors to keep us safe. It is important to respect this rock country.

Some Kuninjku can speak the spirit language. That is the language that the birds and ancestors speak together.”

 

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Djurrung (Sacred bones)

This artwork depicts the Djurrung (bones) inside the lorrkkon (hollow log).

“Our ancestors, when someone passed away, would put them on paperbark tower until all that was left was the bones.

Later, the men would return to that site and collect the bones. They would then fill a painted hollow log with the bones of the deceased, and perform a ceremony. The bones would be hiding inside the hollow log, keeping the passed one safe. After the lorrkkon is filled with bones, it stands up straight in the middle of camp for all to see. The women walk around the lorrkkon dancing, and singing the song that sounds like “biddarr biddarr bidda bidda biddah biddarr.

We can still see the bones from these funerals, in the rock country near Yikarrakal and Manmoyi. You can listen to the birds there singing- they speak to each other. They don’t like balanda (non-indigenous people) going there. But our people, we can call out to the birds and the ancestors to keep us safe. It is important to respect this rock country.

Some Kuninjku can speak the spirit language. That is the language that the birds and ancestors speak together.”

 

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Rocky Point Sea Life

This design is a salt water story, depicting sea life from Rocky Point and Nardilmuk homelands, in Central Arnhem Land. The etching features the diverse water creatures including dugong, shark, prawn, fish, sea-snake, and lobster. “We always go fishing and get these fish and animals and cook them on the fire for eating together. We can only see the dugongs at night time, that’s when we hunt them. We get that line and go fishing down at the rocks and get shark and stingray. Some fish we can catch with a net or spear and some we catch out in the really deep blue sea with a boat. In this design the animals are alive underwater, that’s why I made it blue all over.” This print was created using the etching technique. It is a limited edition of 20 fine art prints, created in Maningrida in 2019.

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Rocky Point Sea Life

This design is a salt water story, depicting sea life from Rocky Point and Nardilmuk homelands, in Central Arnhem Land. The etching features the diverse water creatures including dugong, shark, prawn, fish, sea-snake, and lobster. “We always go fishing and get these fish and animals and cook them on the fire for eating together. We can only see the dugongs at night time, that’s when we hunt them. We get that line and go fishing down at the rocks and get shark and stingray. Some fish we can catch with a net or spear and some we catch out in the really deep blue sea with a boat. In this design the animals are alive underwater, that’s why I made it blue all over.” This print was created using the etching technique. It is a limited edition of 20 fine art prints, created in Maningrida in 2019.

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Rocky Point Sea Life

This design is a salt water story, depicting sea life from Rocky Point and Nardilmuk homelands, in Central Arnhem Land. The etching features the diverse water creatures including dugong, shark, prawn, fish, sea-snake, and lobster. “We always go fishing and get these fish and animals and cook them on the fire for eating together. We can only see the dugongs at night time, that’s when we hunt them. We get that line and go fishing down at the rocks and get shark and stingray. Some fish we can catch with a net or spear and some we catch out in the really deep blue sea with a boat. In this design the animals are alive underwater, that’s why I made it blue all over.” This print was created using the etching technique. It is a limited edition of 20 fine art prints, created in Maningrida in 2019.

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Buluwana (Kuninjku Spirit Woman) – J. Wurrkidj

This design depicts Buluwana (Kuninjku Spirit Woman) with a dilly bag on her head, holding a yam and digging stick.

“She’s an old lady from our ancestor creation time, before mimih spirits roamed the land. Her skin name is Wamuddjan– she is from the Dhuwa moiety. When the mimih came to our country, she turned into stone out Yikarrakkal and Manmoyi way.

She lives in a sacred place, where she turned to stone she lives there now forever. She is an important woman for my people.

I draw her because she my dreaming. I can’t tell the full story about Buluwana, because it’s a little bit secret, but it’s okay for me to paint her and share these parts. My people can know the full Buluwana story, and the djungkay (caretaker) can tell the full Buluwana story too.”

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Buluwana (Kuninjku Spirit Woman) – J. Wurrkidj

This design depicts Buluwana (Kuninjku Spirit Woman) with a dilly bag on her head, holding a yam and digging stick.

“She’s an old lady from our ancestor creation time, before mimih spirits roamed the land. Her skin name is Wamuddjan– she is from the Dhuwa moiety. When the mimih came to our country, she turned into stone out Yikarrakkal and Manmoyi way.

She lives in a sacred place, where she turned to stone she lives there now forever. She is an important woman for my people.

I draw her because she my dreaming. I can’t tell the full story about Buluwana, because it’s a little bit secret, but it’s okay for me to paint her and share these parts. My people can know the full Buluwana story, and the djungkay (caretaker) can tell the full Buluwana story too.”

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Buluwana (Kuninjku Spirit Woman) – J. Wurrkidj

This design depicts Buluwana (Kuninjku Spirit Woman) with a dilly bag on her head, holding a yam and digging stick.

“She’s an old lady from our ancestor creation time, before mimih spirits roamed the land. Her skin name is Wamuddjan– she is from the Dhuwa moiety. When the mimih came to our country, she turned into stone out Yikarrakkal and Manmoyi way.

She lives in a sacred place, where she turned to stone she lives there now forever. She is an important woman for my people.

I draw her because she my dreaming. I can’t tell the full story about Buluwana, because it’s a little bit secret, but it’s okay for me to paint her and share these parts. My people can know the full Buluwana story, and the djungkay (caretaker) can tell the full Buluwana story too.”

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Buluwana (Kuninjku Spirit Woman) – J. Wurrkidj

This design depicts Buluwana (Kuninjku Spirit Woman) with a dilly bag on her head, holding a yam and digging stick.

“She’s an old lady from our ancestor creation time, before mimih spirits roamed the land. Her skin name is Wamuddjan– she is from the Dhuwa moiety. When the mimih came to our country, she turned into stone out Yikarrakkal and Manmoyi way.

She lives in a sacred place, where she turned to stone she lives there now forever. She is an important woman for my people.

I draw her because she my dreaming. I can’t tell the full story about Buluwana, because it’s a little bit secret, but it’s okay for me to paint her and share these parts. My people can know the full Buluwana story, and the djungkay (caretaker) can tell the full Buluwana story too.”

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Buluwana (Kuninjku Spirit Woman) – J. Wurrkidj

This design depicts Buluwana (Kuninjku Spirit Woman) with a dilly bag on her head, holding a yam and digging stick.

“She’s an old lady from our ancestor creation time, before mimih spirits roamed the land. Her skin name is Wamuddjan– she is from the Dhuwa moiety. When the mimih came to our country, she turned into stone out Yikarrakkal and Manmoyi way.

She lives in a sacred place, where she turned to stone she lives there now forever. She is an important woman for my people.

I draw her because she my dreaming. I can’t tell the full story about Buluwana, because it’s a little bit secret, but it’s okay for me to paint her and share these parts. My people can know the full Buluwana story, and the djungkay (caretaker) can tell the full Buluwana story too.”