Karen Napaljarri Barnes

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.