This is an Arawadi. They are warriors and they are painted into the cave's at Bell Gorge. My Grandfather (Jack Dale Mengenen) painted them too. Usually they have arms and legs and spears. I have mixed their head with the body of a Wandjina. Arawadi aren't Wandjina's but a Wandjina did swallow them! They came from Warmun area (East Kimberly). They were greedy for country they wanted to take Ngarinyin country for themselves. The Ngarinyin Wandjina Amalarr said no. Then he called all the other Wandjinas to come and help fight the Arawadi. The Wandjinas won the fight. Amalarr took away their spears and swallowed the warriors. In his guts they grew bigger and bigger each day until they burst out. But they weren't Arawadi anymore they were all kinds of animals crawling across the country back towards Turkey Creek. Woodblock print by Petrina Bedford. Story by Petrina Bedford.
The Wandjina spirits are highly respected by the Worrora, Ngarinyin and Wunumbul people who live at Mowanjum and along the Gibb River Road to Kalumburru in the North West Kimberley region of Western Australia. Wandjina represents the laws of everything the surrounds us trees, rivers, rocks, bush fruit and animals, all creation. The Wandjinas give the law on how we have to treat and use these creations. These customs are carried on today.