Katrina Tjitayi, Pukuara, 121x91cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Katrina Tjitayi
• Community - Ernabella
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Iwiri Arts 
• Catalogue number - 77-23
• Materials - Acrylic paint on linen
• Size(cm) - H121 W91 D2
• Postage variants - Artwork posted un-stretched and rolled for safe shipping
• Orientation - Painted from all sides and OK to hang as wished

This Tjurkurpa (story) is about Pukura an important waterhole site near Irrunytju (Wingellina) in Western Australia. This is a story about kaliny-kalinypa (honey grevillea plant), which Anangu (the term for people in Pitjantjatjara) use as a type of bush lolly, sucking the nectar out of the plant. In the Tjukurpa (Dreaming story) a father and son, Wati Kutjara Wanampi (two male water snakes), are living at Pukara. Because of the kaliny-kalinypa which is found at the site the water there has a sweet taste and lots of people go there to access it. But father Wati Wanampi doesn’t like this and he tells them to go back to their own country. The people leave and the father and son travel to Willuna, where they camp for weeks. When they return to Pukara, they are awoken by a buzzing sound. Minyma Punpunpa (the female flies) are making lots of noise as they buzz around the honeybush. This prompts the father and son to get up to go and collect honey. While they are doing this, a Wati Mututa (black ant) finds the father and son, and spears the son in his side. The young son starts spiting and he spits up the yellow and orange seeds of all the different types of honey grevillea. These plants can still be found at this site today. There is a big variety of honey grevillea plants including kaliny-kalinypa, ultunkunpa, piruwa and witjinti.

Katrina was born and went to school in Ernabella. Her mother was one of the first Ananguteachers at Ernabella Anangu School in the 1940s. On leaving school Katrina studied at Uni SA through the AnTEP program, obtaining a Bachelor of Education. She has worked in Anangu education for more than 20 years including as the Anangu School Improvement Coordinator. She first began painting at the art centre in late 2016, working initially in painting and then trying her hand at ceramic art too. Her work has been exhibited around Australia and overseas, including Sydney, Alice Springs, Darwin, Broome, Mittagong, and Brussels, Belgium. Katrina is a mother to two children and a strong advocate for children’s rights. She is a published author including as co-presenter and writer of 'Red Dirt Curriculum: Re-imagining Remote Education', presented as part of the Sidney Myer Rural Lecture series in 2013. In 2018 she won the 2018 Aunty Josie Agius Award for her work as the Wellbeing Coordinator, her current position at Ernabella Anangu School.

Iwiṟi was established by Aṉangu in 2018, many of whom had been forced to move to Adelaide due to chronic health conditions and lack of services in their home communities. Living far from their traditional homelands, Anangu were concerned about the cultural and social isolation they were experiencing and saw a need to act.  Iwiri was formed initially to help retain, promote and transmit Anangu culture and language through the areas of arts, language, knowledge and community. Since then Iwiṟi has grown rapidly into an organization that delivers  a range of programs that aim to strengthen and advance Aṉangu wellbeing.

Iwiri strengthens the Aṉangu community through cultural and arts activities, creating employment opportunities and enterprise development. We want our young people to be strong in their language and culture and to take up opportunities to work in our community.

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