Janganpa Jukurrpa (Common brush-tail possum Dreaming)

Janganpa Jukurrpa (Common brush-tailed Possum Dreaming) travels all over Warlpiri Country. Janganpa are nocturnal animals that often nest in the hollows of wapunungka (white gum trees). This story comes from a big hill called Mawurrji, west of Yuendumu and north of Pikilyi / Vaughan Springs. A group of Janganpa ancestors resided there. Every night they would go out in search of food. Their hunting trips took them to Wirlki and Wanapirdi, where they found pamapardu (flying ants). They journeyed on to Ngarlkirdipini, looking for water. A Nampijinpa women was living at Mawurrji with her two daughters. She gave her daughters in marriage to a Jupurrurla Janganpa but later decided to run away with her daughters. The Jupurrurla angrily pursued the women. He tracked them to Mawurrji where he killed them with a stone axe. Their bodies are now rocks at this place.

 

Steven Jupurrurla Nelson was born in 1978 and is a lifelong resident of Yuendumu. Steven began painting at Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation in late 2014 after working at the art centre for some time. He typically paints Janganpa Jukurrpa (brush-tail possum Dreaming) from his mother’s side. His country is located near Nyirrpi, another remote Aboriginal community approximately 170 kilometers west of Yuendumu. His mother’s and grandfather’s country is also in this area. His mother’s country includes the Nginyirrpalangu outstation. His grandfather, Banjo Patterson, owned country that includes Ngarupalya. When Steven is not painting, he likes to walk around the community with his dog Xena, and go hunting for kangaroos.