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Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Mona Mitakiki Shepherd, Husband and wife story

Mona Mitakiki Shepherd Australian, Arrernte/Pitjantjatjara, b. 1954

Husband and wife story
acrylic on linen
122 x 101 cm
786976
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Mona told this story to Sara Twigg-Patterson on 3 February 2005. It has been recorded as close as possible to Mona's version. Mona said this story originated at Lapaku, a...
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Mona told this story to Sara Twigg-Patterson on 3 February 2005. It has been recorded as close as possible to Mona's version.

Mona said this story originated at Lapaku, a homeland near Warakurna (Giles Station) in Western Australia. Warakurna is her father's and grandfather's country and where their homeland is situated.

A secret story. One man died in this story. The men elders had inma (ceremony). Ikaka stole something which was men's business only. The elders chased Ikaka and her husband when they tried to run away. The elders found them and killed the husband. Ikaka ran, leaving behind their baby, away from grandfather's country. She went to Langaliki's (Derose) father's place, Kunamata. This lady she passed away there. True story. Mona said she can't tell the full story, as it is watiku (men's) story, she can only tell the Minymaku (women's story) part. "She never came back no more come back she sing for that man", Mona said. "This is really story". Meaning that God told this story, that it is law, and Anangu (people) believe it really happened, a true story. After, Anangu tell this story in ceremony. The old men they know this story and sing it at inma, or ceremony. Mona said that her brother told her she could tell this story, that it is like the Seven Sister story, which is a Creation or Dreamtime story. Mona says she is from Warakurna.

In this painting she is showing the country travelled by the wife as she escaped. The circles represent water or rockholes/soaks where water collects. The areas of cream connecting the rockholes are the dry sandy creek beds. The areas of brown are the puli or rocky outcrops.
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