Yingarna Mother Creation by Jonah Djumburri

In the local mythology, people were born of Yingarna, the mother Rainbow Serpent who became Waramurungundj.

Waramurungundj, the Earth Mother, came from the north across the sea. She created many islands, people and languages. South of Croker Island, she arrived on the mainland and gave birth to a son, the Rainbow Serpent Ngalyod and daughter Ngalkunburriyaymi, the female Rainbow Serpent. She arrived with her husband Wurragag, he however got tired after awhile and sat down, turned into a rock and became dreaming.  As she made her way across the country, she created lands, rivers, hills, people, animals and plants. She carried 14 dilly bags. There are different dreamtime stories on what these dilly bags brought. Some say, when she put the dilly bags down children would run out of the bags. She would teach the children how to survive, what plants to eat, and gave them a language. Hence she is known as the ‘mother of the tribes’. Other stories say she arrived on this land with a belly full of babies and dilly bags filled with food. In either story, the dilly bags brought life to this land. In the end she headed south and never returned, her Creation was complete.

This artwork has been purchased directly from an Aboriginal artist in Kakadu National Park or Arnhem Land. Warradjan Cultural Centre is committed to supporting artists, their families and the local community.