Betsy Napangardi Lewis

The country associated with this painting is Mina Mina, a place far west of Yuendumu, significant to Napangardi and Napanangka women who are the custodians of the Dreaming that created the area. The Dreaming describes the journey of a group of women of all ages who travelled east gathering food, collecting Ngalyipi (Tinospora smilacina or snake vine) and performing ceremonies as they travelled. The women began their journey at Mina Mina where karlangu (digging sticks) emerged from the ground. Taking these implements the women travelled east creating Janyinki and other sites. Their journey took them eventually beyond Warlpiri country. The central motif in this painting is Ngalyipi, snake vine, which grows along the trunks and boughs of desert oak. Ngalyipi is a vine sacred to Napangardi and Napanangka women and has many uses. It is used as a ceremonial wrap, as a strap to carry parrajas laden with bush tucker and as a tourniquet for headaches.