Donny Woolagoodja Australian, Worrorra, 1947-2022
Wandjina, 2020
Ochre on bark
79 x 45 cm
838627
The Wandjina spirit of the Wororra, Ngarinyin and Wunumbul tribe is highly respected by the people of Mowanjum. The Wandjinas brought the law, culture and language. The people of Mowanjum...
The Wandjina spirit of the Wororra, Ngarinyin and Wunumbul tribe is highly respected by the people of Mowanjum. The Wandjinas brought the law, culture and language. The people of Mowanjum believe that the first Wandjina was called Idjair. He created the first human beings, the Gyorn Gyorn people. Wallungunder (Milky Way) travelled back to Idjair (the first Wandjina) to bring back more Wandjinas to give the Gyorn Gyorn (Bradshaw) people laws to live by. Wallungunder also created Ungud spirits which often appear in Mowanjum people. Every person at Mowanjum has an Ungud or Totem. It's given before birth by the father or the grandfather through dreams; and represents a living animal. The three Wandjinas which represent the three language groups of Mowanjum are Namarali for the Worora people, Wodjin or Wanalirri for the Ngarinyin people, and Rimijmarra for the Wunumbul people. Each family group at Mowanjum has a Wandjina which guides them through their lives. The Wandjinas are most active as cloud spirits during the monsoon period, bringing rain to the entire Kimberley region.