Lorraine Nungarrayi Granites, Ngatijirri Jukurrpa (Budgerigar Dreaming), 91x30cm

The Jukurrpa site shown in this painting for Ngatijirri (budgerigar [Melopsittacus undulates]) is at Yangarnmpi, south of Yuendumu. ‘Ngatijirri’ are small, bright green birds native to central Australia which are common around the Yuendumu area, especially after the summer rains. Men would hunt for ‘ngatijirri’ nests, robbing them of eggs and juvenile birds, which are both considered delicacies. The men would also go out hunting for adult, flying ‘ngatijirri’, which they would kill by swinging branches, killing sticks or ‘karli’ (boomerangs) to hit the birds in flight. The ‘ngatijirri’ travelled to Yangarnmpi from Patirlirri, near Willowra to the east of Yuendumu and travelled further on to Marngangi, north/west of Mount Dennison and west of Yuendumu.Each time the flock of ancestral ‘ngatijirri’ lands, they perform ceremonies, singing and dancing as they fly and roost in the trees. After good rains ‘ngatijirri’ can successfully breed several times, resulting in an explosion of the population in a short time. Custodians for the Ngatijirri Jukurrpa are Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women and Japaljarri/Jungarrayi men.

Traditional iconography can be used to depict the sites and birds of this Jukurrpa. the iconography use for the sites and waterholes are concentric circles, while cross-like shapes depict the footprints of the birds on the ground and give an indication of the large flocks of ‘ngatijirri’ that can be found near Yangarnmpi and other sites close to Yuendumu. 

Lorraine Nungarrayi Granites was born in Willowra, a small community North of Yuendumu. She has lived in Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community located 290 kms north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia, since she was a young woman. She is married to Rex Japanangka Granites. Lorraine has raised many kids although she didn't have any of her own. One of her adopted children, Charmaine Granites, lives in Lajamanu. Lorraine is a very proud grandmother to Charmaine's daughter. Lorraine is an important member of the Yuendumu community. She has been working very actively with the Old People's Program in Yuendumu for 12 years. This is a very important community organisation which would not work as well without Lorraine’s incredible support. Lorraine has been painting through Warlukurlangu Artists since 1987. Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation is an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu. She paints her father’s Jukurrpa stories, Dreaming stories which include Karnta Jukurrpa (Women's Dreaming), Witi Jukurrpa (Ceremonial Pole Dreaming) and more recently her Ngatijirri Jukurrpa (Budgerigar Dreaming). All her stories relate directly to her land, its features and animals. These stories were passed down to her by her father and mother and their parents before them for millennia. Lorraine is also an active supporter of the local Baptist Church and an independent learner, studying English and Writing through Batchelor College in Alice Springs. When she is not working or studying Lorraine loves to go out hunting for local bush tucker with the other women in the country around Yuendumu.

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