Maringka Burton Australian, Pitjantjatjara, b. 1950

Maringka was born near Wingellina and grew up in Ernabella community. She went through school in Ernabella and spent most of her youth there. She later moved to Amata and then to Indulkana where she raised her family and still resides today. Maringka is a mother and grandmother for lots of young kids. She is an artist of many mediums including Tjanpi weaving, painting canvas and beaded jewellery. Maringka is also a practicing ngankari (traditional healer) and works with the NPY Women's Council to provide traditional healing services.
"I am a senior lady at Iwantja, and I began working as an artist at Iwantja Arts a long time ago, me and Kunmanara Singer were the first women artists here. I help look after the art centre and go to the big meetings for them. I also enjoy singing and I travelled to sing in the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games, I want to keep painting and doing inma (ceremonial song and dance) always. My father was a special ngangkari (traditional healer) and he taught me about healing; now I am ngangkari too. I do lots of work for the women’s council, I’m always helping at their big meetings and supporting Anangu women. As artists and as a community, we should always do more work with the young people, making things together and teaching them about the old ways too, always remembering country, this is a good way."