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A display of seven baskets mounted on a wall.

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

Artists

Slideshow

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.

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