Yarla Jukurrpaby Kylie Napangardi Williams

This Yarla Jukurrpa comes from an area to the east of Yuendumu Community - Cockatoo Creek. It belongs to the Japaljarri and Jungarrayi men and the Napaljarri and Nungarrayi women kinship groups. Yarla are fibrous tubers that grow beneath a low spreading plant, found by looking for cracks in the ground. This edible tuber grows from 'yartuna' (roots) which seek out moisture to spout new plants. Yarla are good to eat, when cooked they are soft and tasty. The Jukurrpa tells of 'Yarla' and 'Wapirti' ancestors fighting a big battle in this area. The specific site associated with this painting is a Mulju called Ngarparapunyu. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, associated sites and other elements. The curved lines of the 'Kuruwarri' (ceremonial designs) represent the 'Ngamarna' (vine-like tendrils) from which grow Jinjirla (flowers) 'Karlangu' are usually represented as strait lines. "Karlangu are used by Aboriginal women to dig for bush tucker like Yarla and Wapirti which are found underground.