Rimmijbudda (cloud and rain spirit) Rimijbudda is a powerful Wandjina from the Wanumbul country. Gordon Barunga says: “He’s from my mother’s side – Wanumbul, Hunter River, on the sea side from Kalumburu. He’s a thief, steals shells and any sorts of things. Rimij means ‘robs’.” Rimijbudda’s exploits as a thief Read more…
Wandjina & Ungud Snakes The Wandjina spirits are highly respected by the Worrora, Ngarinyin and Wunumbul people who live at Mowanjum and up the Gibb River Road to Kalumburru in the North West Kimberley region of Western Australia. We believe that the Wandjinas brought the law, culture and language to Read more…
ILAA Painting The children (ilaa) in Mowanjum Community love to paint and come to the art centre every day after school to sit with the established artists, their families to learn their stories and culture and how to translate these into beautiful artworks.
Gyorn Gyorn (Bradshaws) The Wandjina created the earth and all life upon it, then he created the first human beings: the Gyorn Gyorn people. He then told them to work the land and do well. The Gyorn Gyorns were confused and didn’t understand what the Wandjina wanted from them. The Read more…
Dumbi Mama (sacred owl) Dumbi is an owl which resides in Ngarinyin country. Two boys teased Dumbi after they found his tree knocked over by the wind. Dumbi could not fly away because he was Mayanki oni (cold) and the Wilmi (dew) was sticking his feathers together. The boys plucked Read more…
Ungud (Snake) The Ungud Snake story is about two young boys who didn’t listen to their elders or believe in them. There is a big waterhole an in it lies a large Ungud Snake. The old people told the kids not to go near that waterhole, but these boys thought Read more…
Lulgardi (Boab Tree) The boab tree is special us – we can eat the nuts, the young roots are also delicious, and we make string from the bark. It is also part of our flood story, the Dumbi story. You get good shade from it, and we carve the nuts Read more…
Wandjina Dreaming The Wandjina spirit of the Wororra, Ngarinyin and Wunumbul tribe is highly respected by the people of Mowanjum. The Wandjinas brought the law, culture and language. The people of Mowanjum believe that the first Wandjina was called Idjair. He created the first human beings, the Gyorn Gyorn people. Read more…
Wandjina & Ungud (cloud and rain spirits & totem) The Wandjina is the creator spirit that belongs to us (the Wororra, Ngarinyin and Wunumbul people). He is the one that created everything, he also gave us our culture, law and songs and even the dreaming of each child before they Read more…
Wandjina & Ungud (cloud and rain spirits & totem) The Wandjina is the creator spirit that belongs to us (the Wororra, Ngarinyin and Wunumbul people). He is the one that created everything, he also gave us our culture, law and songs and even the dreaming of each child before they Read more…