Seven Sisters

Baskets arranged to form the Seven Sisters (Pleiades) constellation

The Canning Stock Route tapped into waters that were already key sites in far longer journeys, and far older stories.

In Aboriginal cultures across Australia, and in other cultures around the world, the Pleiades constellation is associated with the story of the Seven Sisters. Minyipuru Jukurrpa is the Martu version of this story.

The Minyipuru began their journey from Roebourne as a big group of sisters and their mothers. At various places along the way, they lost members of their party until eventually only seven sisters remained.

At Kalypa (Well 23) the Minyipuru met a group of Jukurrpa men; it was the first time either group had seen members of the opposite sex. The men tried to grab the women, but the Minyipuru chased them off, hitting them with their digging sticks and leaving them where they fell.

At Pangkapini the sisters met Yurla, an amorous old man who had followed them from Roebourne. Yurla grabbed one of the women, but her sisters tricked him and managed to rescue her. The sisters ultimately escaped into the sky, where they became stars.

The following short film, called Parnngurr Nyiru, describes the story.

Parnngurr Nyiru 01:05

Director: Curtis Taylor. Writer: Curtis Taylor. Producer: Nicole Ma. Camera: Curtis Taylor, Dave Wells. Editor: Brandt Lee, Curtis Taylor. Narrator: Kumpaya Girgaba. Translator: Curtis Taylor. Executive Producer: FORM Canning Stock Route Project. © Curtis Taylor, 2010

Weaving

Desert women have always practised weaving, using natural fibres, hair and grasses to make ornaments, tools and footwear.

The colourful baskets desert women make today also recall the traditional wooden vessels women used to carry water, to cradle babies, or to winnow seeds. Today, traditional practices such as these are being woven into new forms of material culture and contemporary art.

Nola Taylor, Parnngurr, 2008:

We design baskets to remind us of the piti [wooden dishes] we used to carry on our heads. We gather the minari [grass] from our own Country and we like lovely, coloured wool.

In Kaninjaku these woven forms have become an installation that tells the Minyipurru or Seven Sisters dreaming.

The baskets are arranged to form the Seven Sisters (Pleiades) constellation, as can be seen above. Images of the individual baskets are available below.

A circular coiled multicoloured yarn and plant fibre bowl shaped basket. The centre of the basket is pale pink yarn, covering the the plant fibre, followed by horizontal alternate yarn covering over the fibre. The yarn is coloured purple-green, green-grey, yellow-black, orange- blue. The top plant fibre is covered by green-blue yarn finished by an orange line. - click to view larger image — Basket by Kanu Nancy Taylor

An oval coiled multicoloured yarn and plant fibre basket. The plant fibre in the centre of the basket is covered by yellow yarn, followed by horizontal alternate yarn coverings over the fibre. The yarn colours are purple, yellow, brown-white-pink, purple-yellow, pink-blue, red-brown-pink, purple-pink-blue, black-yellow, orange-pink. The top plant fibre is covered by half yellow-black and orange-purple yarn. - click to view larger image — Basket by Kanu Nancy Taylor

An oval coiled multicoloured yarn and plant fibre basket. The plant fibre in the centre of the basket is covered by purple-yellow yarn, followed by horizontal alternate yarn coverings over the fibre. The yarn colours are green-yellow, tan-yellow, purple-red, yellow-black, green-silver-brown and red-white-brown. The top plant fibre is covered by yellow-black yarn. - click to view larger image — Basket by Kanu Nancy Taylor

An oval coiled multicoloured yarn and plant fibre basket. The plant fibre in the centre of the basket is covered by brown-blue yarn, followed by horizontal alternate yarn coverings over the fibre. The yarn colours are green-yellow, red-yellow, red-white, red-green, green-white, pink-white, red-brown, pink-brown, and yellow pink. The top plant fibre is covered by pink-white yarn. - click to view larger image — Basket by Ngamaru Bidu

A circular coiled multicoloured yarn and plant fibre basket. The plant fibre in the very centre of the basket is covered with orange-green yarn, followed by horizontal alternate yarn coverings over the fibre. The alternate yarn colours are brown, brown-blue, yellow-blue, yellow-brown, tan-cream, tan-brown, cream-pink, red-yellow, yellow-tan, light blue-light pink with various combinations of red, yellow, tan and white up to the top coil. The top plant fibre coil is covered by white-purple yarn. - click to view larger image — Basket by Kumpaya Girgaba

A multicoloured circular coiled yarn and plant fibre bowl-shaped basket. The centre of the basket is in pale pink yarn followed by horizontal stripes of yarn in lavender, pink, green, yellow, orange, blue and dark pink. - click to view larger image — Basket by Mantararr Rosie Williams

Additional artwork

The following baskets are also on display in Kaninjaku:

A non-symmetrical cylindrical coiled multicoloured yarn and plant fibre basket, with beaded top edge and metal container base. The blue and white circular base has 'Fray Bentos / Steak and Mushroom Pie' plus other text printed on it. The yarn and fibre section of the basket is attached to the metal base by yarn threaded through holes that have punched in the sides of the tin. The coiled yarn is rainbow coloured with a dominant dark pink tone. On the inside there are two carved brown cylinder beads, two red cylinder beads, one large green round bead and two small round beads in orange and brown. At the top edge of the basket is a ring of natural wood cylinder beads that have been attached with a green yarn. - click to view larger image — Basket by Yuwali Janice Nixon

A cylindrical coiled multicoloured yarn and plant fibre basket with a metal base. The light and dark pink coiled yarn is mixed with colours of blue, orange, red and purple. The base of the basket is a blue and white coloured metal tin with burn marks to the bottom. Yarn is used to attach the base to the top section through holes that have been punched in the tin. - click to view larger image — Basket by Yuwali Janice Nixon

A circular coiled multicoloured yarn and plant fibre basket with a metal base and bead decoration. The base is made of a blue metal 'Fray Bento / Steak and Mushroom Pie' tin with sides, that is placed upside down. The yarn section is attached by black yarn threaded through holes punched in the metal. The closely coiled yarn is in stripes starting with blue at the top edge then yellow, red, orange, pink and black. The top edge and sides have a decoration of evenly spaced carved cylindrical wooden beads in orange, brown, green and white. - click to view larger image — Basket by Jiwara Sarah Brooks

A circular coiled striped yarn basket over plant fibre, with a metal base. The basket has a circular tobacco tin base with text on the back and holes punched around the base. The yarn coiled fibre section is attached with yarn through the holes in the tin, and opens out toward the top. The basket has a stripe of yellow at the top edge followed by green, orange, dark green, purple and white-green. - click to view larger image — Basket by Dadda Samson

A multi-coloured circular coiled bowl-shaped basket made of yarn and plant fibre. The centre of the basket is in yellow yarn followed by horizontal stripes of yarn in lime green, lavender, pink, orange, yellow and light blue grey. - click to view larger image — Basket by Mantararr Rosie Williams

A shallow circular coiled multicoloured yarn and plant fibre basket with metal base and bead trim. The base is made of a 'Fray Bento / Steak and Kidney Pie' tin that has been unevenly flattened and shows blackening from heat. This is attached to the yarn and fibre section by yarn threaded through holes punched in the tin. The yarn is in rainbow colours with red and blue being the most dominant. At the top edge is a circle of red, orange, beige, brown, navy and green round wood beads with a few cylinder beads included. - click to view larger image — Basket by Jartarr Lily Long

A funnel shaped basket of multicoloured coiled yarn over plant fibre with a beaded edge. The yarn is rainbow coloured with a dominant yellow tone. The maroon yarn used at the base has small silver sequins in it. The round wood beads attached at the top edge of the basket are mostly red and brown with a few green, yellow, black and natural coloured ones. - click to view larger image — Basket by Thelma Judson

Artists

Portrait of Ngamayu Ngamaru Bidu. - click to view larger image

Portrait of Jiwara Sarah Brooks. - click to view larger image

Portrait of Kumpaya Girgaba. - click to view larger image

Portrait of Thelma Judson. - click to view larger image

Portait of Nyangkarni Penny K-Lyons. - click to view larger image

Portrait of Jartarr Lily Long. - click to view larger image

Portrait of Yuwali Janice Nixon. - click to view larger image

Portrait of Dadda Samson. - click to view larger image

Portrait of Kanu Nancy Taylor. - click to view larger image

Portrait of Mantararr Rosie Williams. - click to view larger image

Ngamaru Bidu

born about 1950, Manyjilyjarra language group, Karimarra skin group, Parnngurr community, Martumili Artists

Ngamayu grew up around Pitu.

As a child she encountered surveyor Len Beadell, who was grading roads near Well 22. He gave Ngamayu and her siblings fruit. Not realising that it was meant to be eaten raw, they cooked the fruit until it was completely dried up.

After meeting Beadell, Ngamayu's family was picked up at Parnngurr rock hole and taken to Jigalong.

Jiwara Sarah Brooks

born late 1950s, Manyjilyjarra language group, Karimarra skin group, Newman, Martumili Artists

Jiwara is the sister of Clifford Brooks and Mantyil May Brooks. Their father was the older brother of Rover Thomas.

Jiwara was an adult when she first visited Kunawarritji, her father’s Country, but she has travelled back often since then.

In 2007 Sarah joined the Canning Stock Route ‘return to Country’ trip, and participated in painting and basketmaking workshops at Kunawarritji in 2008.

Kumpaya Girgaba

born about 1945, Manyjilyjarra language group, Karimarra skin group, Parnngurr community, Martumili Artists

A respected law woman and cultural leader, Kumpaya was born near Kiwirrkurra and grew up around the Canning Stock Route.

For many years her family avoided contact with Europeans, but eventually they moved to Jigalong mission to join their relatives.

Kumpaya learned how to paint and weave baskets while visiting family in Balgo, Fitzroy Crossing and Patjarr. She is credited with introducing these skills to Martu people.

Thelma Judson

born about 1956, Manyjilyjarra language group, Milangka skin group, Parnngurr community, Martumili Artists

Thelma was born in the Percival Lakes region and grew up around Yimiri and Kurturarra. In 1964 her family was one of the last Martu groups to leave the desert and be reunited with their families at Jigalong mission.

After she left school, Thelma moved to Strelley station and married in Jigalong, where she had her children. Today she lives in Parnngurr with her husband, Yanjimi Peter Rowlands, and their children.

Nyangkarni Penny K-Lyons

born about 1932, Juwaliny, Walmajarri language groups, Nangkarti skin group, Wangkatjungka community, Mangkaja Arts

We are lost in our Country. Nobody’s here.

Nyangkarni’s sister, Taku Rosie Tarco, brother, Kurrapa Peter Skipper, and parents walked out of the desert before her. She and her grandmother encountered two murderers preying on the last of the desert people.

One man killed Nyangkarni’s grandmother and forced Nyangkarni to be his wife. They travelled north to Christmas Creek station where Nyangkarni reunited with family.

Jartarr Lily Long

born about 1940, Warnman language group, Milangka skin group, Nullagine community, Martumili Artists

Daddy was from Fitzroy side, droving to Tiwa [Well 26]. He was going to steal my mother from my Warnman daddy and take her [back to] Kimberley. He took a droving horse and took her to Karlamilyi.

Jartarr’s father was the famous Kimberley drover, Jamili. He fell in love with Jartarr’s mother and tried to steal her from her husband. Jartarr was born in Karlamilyi (Rudall River) and grew up with her Warnman father.

Yuwali Janice Nixon

born about 1947, Manyjilyjarra, Mangala language groups, Purungu skin group, Parnngurr community, Martumili Artists

Yuwali was born at Yulpu soak in the Percival Lakes. In 1964 her family group, which consisted only of women and children, tried to evade a native welfare patrol officer who was attempting to bring them in to Jigalong mission.

This story is depicted in the book Cleared Out and the film Contact. Yuwali later worked on a number of stations, but finally moved closer to her Country in 1982 when she moved to Punmu.

Dadda Samson

born about 1939, Kartujarra language group, Milangka skin group, Jigalong community, Martumili Artists

Before Dadda was born, her parents and brothers lived in the Country around Jilakurru (Well 17).

In the late 1930s, as droving traffic intensified, her family relocated west to old Jigalong, the ration station established on the rabbit-proof fence. Dadda was born by the windmill there.

She still lives in Jigalong and is one of the pioneering painters at Martumili Artists.

Nancy Taylor

born about 1940, Manyjilyjarra language group, Panaka skin group, Parnngurr community, Martumili Artists

Kanu grew up around Karlamilyi (Rudall River) and the Percival Lakes where she married Jarran Jan Billycan’s brother and raised a family.

After meeting a white man near Oakover River, the family was taken to Balfour Downs station and then to Jigalong. Kanu now lives in Parnngurr with her second husband, Wokka Taylor, and their grandchildren.

Mantararr Rosie Williams

born about 1943, Manyjilyjarra, Mangala language groups, Milangka skin group, Punmu community, Martumili Artists

Rosie was born at Kurupu, near Kurturarra in the Percival Lakes.

After her father died at Karlamilyi (Rudall River), Rosie and her sisters, Jugarda Dulcie Gibbs and Muni Rita Simpson, met up with some Martu people who told them that their relatives were at Jigalong, and so they moved to the mission.

In 1982 Rosie returned to her homelands at Punmu, where she lives today with her children and grandchildren.