Nyunmiti Burton Australian, Pitjantjara, b. 1960

Nyunmiti Susan Burton was born in Alice Springs in 1960. She grew up in Pukatja (Ernabella) with her parents where she attended school. After completing her final school years at Yirara College in Alice Springs, Nyunmiti moved back to Ernabella and began her first job at the arts and crafts centre working with batik.

In 1980, Nyunmiti married and moved to Amata where she began a career as an Aboriginal Education Worker. Nyunmiti trained to become a teacher, completing her degree in 1997. Nyunmiti is the Vice Chairperson of NPY Women's council and has many years of experience in community governance. She has previously been a member of Amata Community Council and Director and Chairperson of Tjala Arts and holds a very respected and senior position within her community.

In between working for Women’s Council and teaching Pitjantjatjarra in Adelaide at the University of South Australia, Nyunmiti is also a practicing artist. Nyunmiti paints her country and is remembering stories passed down to her from her father, mother and grandfather when she paints. She is thinking about how a long time ago they used to look after the country, there was plenty of food and families were happy travelling around from place to place.

"I heard these stories from my father, mother and grandfathers. I think about the future of the country for the next generation." Nyunmiti Burton.