Don Nakidilinj Namundja

Ngalkunburriyaymi or Yawkyawk is the Kunwinjku name for female water spirits with fish-like tails, who act as the guardians of sacred waterholes and Djang (Dreaming) sites. This design depicts a billabong brimming with animal and plant life. The central figure of Ngalkunburriyaymi swims alongside namarnkol (barramundi), which is regarded as belonging to her. She is surrounded by ngalmangiyi (turtles), kordbolbok (frogs), kedjebe (file snake), namardaka (eel-tailed catfish), karlerrh (longtom), wakih (freshwater shrimp) and mandem (waterlilies) of all different kinds. Ngalkunburriyaymi start out in tadpole-like form, also shown in this design. The fluid outlines of the design suggest the underwater setting complementing the infill of straight parallel rarrk (hatching) in the ancient rock art style.