Description
This is a Garrawurra Ḻiyagawumirr painting belonging to Gärriyak, a homeland on the mainland south of Galiwin’ku. It depicts two Dhuwa djanda or djarrka (goannas) and the infamous Garrawurra djirriḏiḏi (forest kingfisher) striped design painted on their bodies, which relates closely to the story of the Djaŋ’kawu Sisters.
The ancestral Djaŋ’kawu Sisters travelled from the East – from Rirratjiŋu country at Yalaŋbarra (on the mainland near Groote Island), to the Djapu clan lands further south where they sing with biḻma (clapsticks) and yiḏaki. They then travel West, first to the Ḏäṯiwuy clan lands and then on to Gärriyak, to Marrapay belonging to Guyala people, and they go around to Bayguḏa on the east side of Rapuma Island belonging to Gorryindi, and crossed over further West. Wherever they stopped, the Djaŋ’kawu Sisters changed their language, names, clan, ceremony and customs – they gave these things to the people at each place. They also made Gapu Milminydjarrk or Milŋurr (waterholes) by poking their dhoṉa (digging sticks) into the ground. Some of these waters are sacred but some are alright to drink from. The Sisters gave miku (red), watharr (white) and buthalak (yellow) ochre colours for us to paint with.
Surrounding the goannas are the fruits from the mangrove tree where they live.
This miny’tji (clan design) is painted on the bodies of young boys during dhapi (initiation ceremony), with the stripes on their chest.
