Turtle waters

Painting
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"Muruwirri represents Rirratjiŋu Yolŋu. Whenever fights, problems going on we stand on that rock – not fall down – stand like this one here –firm." [1]

Painitng detail
Muruwirri rock in Rirratjiŋu at Dhambaliya

Painting detail Photo: Reefs
Right: Detail of reefs in Rirratjiŋu at Dhambaliya. Left: the reefs near the island Dhambaliya. Photo: Jeremy Cloake

Photo: Muruwirri rock
Muruwirri rock


Muruwirri is one of many names given to the rock that stands proud in the sea dividing Mirrikiwuy (Mt Dundas) and Dhambaliya (Bremer island). Non-Yolŋu refer to it as ‘whale rock’ but for the Rirratiŋu and their måri clan, the Djambarrpuyŋu, it has many ‘deep’ names that are intoned by the ritual specialists at the culmination of appropriate ceremony. [2]
1. Saltwater: Yirrkala Bark Paintings of Sea Country, Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre and Jennifer Isaacs Publishing, 1999. p107
2. Adpated from Saltwater: Yirrkala Bark Paintings of Sea Country, p108