Shirley has interpreted the Giji kinship system in her painting, inspired by a similar story painting by her mother Madigan thomas. For contemporary Gija people, this system still operates to some extent but has gone through significant change since colonisation. Shirley Details the two matrilineal skin 'cycles'. There are four names in each cycle to which Shirley belongs includes Nyawoorroo hermother's skin, Nangari which is her own, Nangala and Nyaajarri and the opposite cycle of her in-laws with Nagarra, Naminyjili, Nambin and Nyawana.
Your skin name comes from your mother anddetermines what the correct rela