Wilkinkarra - Mitjili Gibson Napanangka

Inspired by her niece, Dorothy Napangardi, Mitjili Napanangka Gibson began painting on canvas in 2006. They shared many Dreaming stories, in particular those associated with Mina Mina, a sacred site for the Napanangka and Napangardi skin groups on Warlpiri land.

Fluent in both Pintupi and Warlpiri, Mitjili could trace her heritage to members of the Pintupi whose first contact with white people was a meeting with the explorer Donald Thompson in 1957. While most Pintupi moved north towards Balgo or east towards Papunya, Mitjili Napanangka Gibson’s small family group moved to the Warlpiri community of Yuendumu.

In this painting, Mitjili has depicted part of a long narrative Dreaming story, 'Wilkinkarra' is the Pintubi name for Lake Mackay. This area is Mitjili’s traditional country and this is the region where she lived pre-contact. Mitjili’s family would camp on the Walatu (islands of the lake) and then go into the surrounding bush to hunt. One of their main camps was called “Parrailpit”, a large wetland area with many eucalyptus trees.