Paddy Japaljarri Stewart

Door 24 – Yurrampi manu Wakaparta Jukurrpa (Honey Ant Dreaming and Mulga Worm Dreaming) This is a story about the Honey Ant Dreaming and the Mulga Worm Dreaming. The honey ant and the mulga worm share ground in ‘jirrijirrinpa’ (mulga woodland country). Honey ants are a much prized delicacy and the mulga worm is used in ceremonies. The Honey ants are considered to be well worth the enormous effort it takes to dig them out of the ground. The ants dig tunnels quite deep under the ground. Branching from these passage ways are chambers (‘mingki’), from the ceiling of which the honey ants are suspended, full of food. With their swollen abdomens, the ants are unable to move. Honey ants can be identified by a little yellow stripe on their backs. The country associated with this Jukurrpa is Wanakurdpanda, east of Yuendumu. This Jukurrpa also travels through Yuendumu, and belongs to Japangardi/Japanangka men and Napangardi/Napanangka women. The Mulga Worm Dreaming is depicted by ‘S’ shapes and are found around the mulga trees. The worms have two teeth and are collected by the women. The custodians of the Dreaming are Japaljarri/Jungarrayi men and Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women and the kurdungurlu – the managers of the Dreaming who have to assure that rituals are performed correctly – are Jakamarra/Jampijinpa men and Nakamarra/Nampijinpa women.