This painting depicts a yankirri Jukurrpa (emu [Dromaius novaehollandiae] Dreaming) from a place called Ngarlikurlangu, approximately 50kms north of Yuendumu. The kirda (owners) of this Dreaming are Nangala/Nampijinpa women and Jangala/Jampijinpa men.
This Jukurrpa tells the story of a yankirri (emu) and a wardilyka (bush turkey [Ardeotis australis]). Yankirri lived at a soakage to the west called Warnirripanu (or Walangkamirirri), while wardilyka lived at a soakage to the east called Parirri. The emu and bush turkey used to go around the country picking yakajirri (bush raisins [Solanum centrale]) and mashing them into kapurdu (fruit balls) to save in their nests for later. However, they were jealous of each other; the emu thought that the bush turkey was picking the best and juiciest yakajirri, and was leaving him with only the sour yakajirri.
The emu went to the bush turkey's nest to the east while the bush turkey was out hunting and smashed up the kapurdu that the bush turkey had saved there. When the bush turkey returned, he found his smashed yakajirri balls and realized that the emu had destroyed them. He went to the west to confront the emu and when he found him, they got into a big fight. The bush turkey eventually flew away to the north, leaving behind the smashed yakajirri balls.
This practice of making kapurdu (fruit balls) is a traditional Warlpiri method of storing yakajirri; in the old days, people used to dry the yakajirri, grind them up with a rock in a coolamon, mix them with water and form balls from them, and cover the kapurdu with red ochre so they would keep.
Today at Ngarlikirlangu we can see round, red rocks which are the kapurdu that the emu smashed up. There is also a dance for this yankirri (emu) Jukurrpa that is performed during men's initiation ceremonies. A number of other Jukurrpa are also located at Ngarlikirlangu, including wardilyka Jukurrpa (bush turkey Dreaming), yardijiinypa Jukurrpa (meat ant Dreaming), and pirntina Jukurrpa (woma or Ramsay's python [Aspidites ramsayi] Dreaming). Lots of yakajirri grow around the Ngarlikirlangu area today.
In contemporary Warlpiri paintings, traditional iconography can be used to represent the Jukurrpa, associated sites, and other elements. Yankirri are usually represented by arrow- like shapes depicting their wirliya (footprints) as they walk around.
