Ethel (Narelle) Kanpatja Holland

Ethel has mapped the rock holes, claypans, saltpans and bores between Jameson and Walu rock hole. Walu rock hole is a special place north of Papulankutja (Blackstone) where traditionally Yarnangu families would gather when water was available in the holes found among the rocks. Travelling from Jameson (at bottom of painting) heading upwards on the right is Lyli Bore, Likarpula rock hole, Kuntjal claypan, Karrpilin rock hole where Ethel said an Ancestral water snake lived, and Multju. Ethel said families would come from South Australia APY Lands and Blackstone and drive to Multju and Karpilin for holidays. Heading up the middle is Lyli rock hole, Ngartun rock hole where Ethel’s family have a caravan for holidays and at the top Walu where many families would gather after the rains. On the left above Jameson is Yantjiri rock hole which Ethel said was a nice flat rock, nice water and sandhills for hunting tinka (sand goanna) The elongated shapes are the saltpans and the circles are the many small rock holes. The rock holes across the lands vary in size from as large as a car to as small as a deep kitchen sink. They can be found buried in the flat rock surface on the ground, at the bottom of a waterfall or among the ranges where there is an expanse of flat rock surface. Yarnangu kept these rock holes clear of dirt build up, dead animals, debris etc so the water was drinkable. No one was allowed to swim in the rock holes that were used for drinking and cooking.