The jila men
When you go there you have to light a fire, so that jila can know you're coming.
Jukuja Dolly Snell, Fitzroy Crossing, 2007
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Kaningarra, 2007
Manmarr Daisy Andrews, Mangkaja Arts, acrylic on canvas, 89.5 x 119 cm
This is Kaningarra, near Well 48 on the Canning Stock Route. There were little birds that [would] come before the rain to the waterhole, but now it's all dried up. Old people used to sing for the rain and the birds would come down.
Kaningarra is a major rainmaking site. In addition to the main song for the Kaningarra jila, other rainmaking songs, such as this one, converge here:
Kitil and wiyirr birds migrate towards the storm, bringing the rain.
Puddles form, little streams run on the ground. People walk through pools of water.
Rain makes the waters run like a river. Foaming up, the waters meet and flood.
Wirnpa, 2004
Harry Bullen, Yulparija Artists, acrylic on canvas, 121 x 121 cm
Kurtal been stealing jakuli [pearl shell] from saltwater Country. Wirnpa chased him. He been see his jakuli shining in the sunshine and chuck 'em back [to] saltwater Country.Wirnpa the boss bloke. He been go Punmu, Wangkatjungka, Kurungal, Kurtal, Nyangumarta Country, Martu Country, Karajarri Country.
Laverty Collection
Wikirri, 2007
Jakayu Biljabu, Martumili Artists, acrylic on linen, 91.5 x 62 cm
Wirnpa and another man were travelling from the west. When he landed at Wikirri, he spread all the food, mitutu, nyunjin and yukiri seeds.
At Yinyaru, they saw flashing lights and the man found an enormous hailstone pulsating with light. He flew with Wirnpa, holding the hailstone against his belly. He dropped it when it became too heavy, and they picked it up and kept going.
