d travelled further on to Marngangi, north west of Mt 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. The sites of these ceremonies are depicted in this painting as concentric circles, while cross-like shapes depict the footprints of the birds on the ground and give an indication of the large flocks of Ngatijirri that can be found near Yangarnmpi and other sites close to Yuendumu. 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 the Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women and Japaljarri/Jungarrayi men.

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The Jukurrpa site shown in this painting for Ngatijirri (budgerigar) 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 the nests, for eggs and juvenile birds, both considered delicacies. The men would also hunt the flying adult Ngatijirri, with 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 Mt Dennison and west of Yuendumu.

Kershini Napaljarri Collins

Ngatijirri Jukurrpa – Budgerigar Dreaming

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