Julie Nangala Roberston Shirely b. 1973
Mina Jukurpa, 2023
acrylic on canvas
61 x 46 cm
4917/23
Mina Mina is an extremely important ceremonial site for Napangardi and napanangka women that is located approximately 600kms west of Yuendumu, just east of Lake Mackay and the WA border....
Mina Mina is an extremely important ceremonial site for Napangardi and napanangka women that is located approximately 600kms west of Yuendumu, just east of Lake Mackay and the WA border. Mina Mina has a 'marluri' (salt lake or claypan) that is usually dry, without water. There are also a number of 'mulju' (soakages), sandhills, and a large stand of 'kurrkara' (desert oaks [Allocasuarina decaisneana]). The Mina Mina Jukurrpa is an important source of Warlpiri ritual knowledge and social organization, particularly relating to the different roles performed by men and women.
The 'kirda' (owners) of this country are Napangardi/Napanangka women and Japangardi/Japanangka men, who can depict portions of the Mina Mina Jukurrpa in their paintings. The artists mother, Dorothy Napangardi (c. 1956-2013) painted Mina Mina and has passed down her Jukurrpa stories to her children and asked them to continue to paint for her. There are a number of different components of the Mina Mina Jukurrpa; artists usually choose to depict one particular aspect. These can include 'karnta' (women), 'karlangu' (digging sticks), 'majardi' (hairstring skirts/tassels), 'ngalyipi' (snakevine [Tinospora smilacinal]), 'jintiparnta' (desert truffle [Elderia arenivaga]), and 'kurrkara' (desert oak [Allocasuarina decaisneana]).
In ancestrak times a group of 'karnta' (women) traveled from Mina Mina on an epic journey to the east. These ancestral women danced at Mina Mina and 'karlangu' (digging sticks) rose up out of the ground. They carried their digging sticks over their shoulders and they were adorned with 'majardi' (hairstring belts), white feathers, and necklaces made from 'yinirnti' (bean tree Erythrina vespertilio]) seeds.
They travelled east from Mina Mina, dancing, digging for bush tucker, and creating many places as they went. As they went east, they passed through Kimayi (a stand of 'Kurrkara' (desert oak)). They passed through sandhill country where the 'yarla' (bush potato or 'big yam' [Ipomea costata]) ancestors from Yumurrpa and the 'ngarlajiyi' (pencil yam or 'small yam' [Vigna lanceolata]) ancestors from Yumurrpa were engaged in a huge battle over women. This battle is also a very important Warlpiri Jukurrpa narrative. The women went on to Janyinki and stopped at Wakakurrku (Mala Bore), where they stuck their digging sticks in the ground.
These digging sticks turned into mulga trees, which still grow at Wakakurrku today.
The 'kirda' (owners) of this country are Napangardi/Napanangka women and Japangardi/Japanangka men, who can depict portions of the Mina Mina Jukurrpa in their paintings. The artists mother, Dorothy Napangardi (c. 1956-2013) painted Mina Mina and has passed down her Jukurrpa stories to her children and asked them to continue to paint for her. There are a number of different components of the Mina Mina Jukurrpa; artists usually choose to depict one particular aspect. These can include 'karnta' (women), 'karlangu' (digging sticks), 'majardi' (hairstring skirts/tassels), 'ngalyipi' (snakevine [Tinospora smilacinal]), 'jintiparnta' (desert truffle [Elderia arenivaga]), and 'kurrkara' (desert oak [Allocasuarina decaisneana]).
In ancestrak times a group of 'karnta' (women) traveled from Mina Mina on an epic journey to the east. These ancestral women danced at Mina Mina and 'karlangu' (digging sticks) rose up out of the ground. They carried their digging sticks over their shoulders and they were adorned with 'majardi' (hairstring belts), white feathers, and necklaces made from 'yinirnti' (bean tree Erythrina vespertilio]) seeds.
They travelled east from Mina Mina, dancing, digging for bush tucker, and creating many places as they went. As they went east, they passed through Kimayi (a stand of 'Kurrkara' (desert oak)). They passed through sandhill country where the 'yarla' (bush potato or 'big yam' [Ipomea costata]) ancestors from Yumurrpa and the 'ngarlajiyi' (pencil yam or 'small yam' [Vigna lanceolata]) ancestors from Yumurrpa were engaged in a huge battle over women. This battle is also a very important Warlpiri Jukurrpa narrative. The women went on to Janyinki and stopped at Wakakurrku (Mala Bore), where they stuck their digging sticks in the ground.
These digging sticks turned into mulga trees, which still grow at Wakakurrku today.