Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Wayne and Vicki McGeoch. National Museum of Australia
This painting is about the Seven Sisters songline. It shows many parts of the story as the Seven Sisters work together to outsmart their pursuer, the sorcerer Wati Nyiru. Artist Judith Yinyika Chambers (pictured below) has used seven white lines for the tracks of the Seven Sisters, and a single white line to show Wati Nyiru following them.
Songlines stories can be used to teach us about the land and the way of life in desert communities. Aboriginal people are spiritually and intellectually connected to the land. Stories belong to the communities through which the songlines travel. Special permission is needed to tell the stories and paint them.
Questions
How would songlines stories be recorded before canvas and paint?
In what other ways could stories be passed down to the next generations?
Would the artist need permission to paint the seven sisters Songline?
Judith Yinyika Chambers
Born 1958, Purungu skin group
Judith Yinyika Chambers was born at Mitjika, a rock-hole near what is now Wanarn community. Her family settled at Warburton Mission while she attended school. Chambers completed her schooling at Pink Lake High School in Esperance, on the south coast of Western Australia.
The family moved to Docker River in the Northern Territory in the late 1960s, to be closer to their homelands.
Her family returned to Warakurna as part of the 1970s movement back to country.
Extended resources
Extending knowledge with diverse educational resources is a valuable way to further build on programs. Below are educational resources developed by the National Museum of Australia which will strengthen your understanding of the artworks in Warakurna: All the stories got into our minds and eyes.
