The following description is for the artwork designed by Dorothy Napangardi, who was a Warlpiri speaking Indigenous Australian from Alice Springs. Her artwork is featured on our Women’s Dreaming pendant and Women’s Dreaming earrings.
The country associated with this Jukurrpa is Mina Mina, a place far to the west of Yuendumu, which is significant to Napangardi/Japanangka men. All of them are custodians of the Jukurrpa that created that area.
The Jukurrpa story tells of the journey of a group of women of all ages who traveled to the east gathering food, collecting “ngalyipi”, snake vine (Tinospora Smilacina) and performing ceremonies as they traveled. The women began their journey at Mina Mina where “karlangu” digging sticks emerged from the ground. Taking these implements, the women traveled east far beyond the Walpiri boundaries creating Janyinki and other sites.
The Ngalyipi vine grows up the trunks and limbs of the “kurrkara”. (Allocasuarina Decaisneana desert oak trees.)
Ngalyipi is a sacred vine that has many uses. It can be used as a ceremonial wrap, as a strap to carry “parrajas” — wooden bowls that are laden with bush tucker — and as a tourniquet for headaches.
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