The Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa (Seven Sisters Dreaming) depicts the
story of the seven ancestral Napaljarri sisters who are found in the
night sky today in the cluster of seven stars in the constellation
Taurus, more commonly known as the
Pleiades. The Pleiades are seven women of the Napaljarri skin group and
are often depicted in paintings of this Jukurrpa carrying the Jampijinpa
man wardilyka’ (the bush turkey [Ardeotis australias]) who is in love
with the Napaljarri-warnu and who represents the Orion's Belt cluster of
stars. Jukurra-jukurra, the morning star, is a Jakamarra man who is
also in love with the seven Napaljarri sisters and is often shown
chasing them across the night sky. In a final attempt to escape from the
Jakamarra the Napaljarri-warnu turned themselves into fire and
ascended to the heavens to become stars. The custodians of the
Napaljarri-warnu Jukurrpa are Japaljarri/Jungarrayi men and
Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women. Some parts of the Napaljarri-warnu Jukurrpa
are closely associated with men’s sacred ceremonies of a very secretive
nature. Yanjirlpirri
Jukurrpa (Star Dreaming) tells of the journey of Japaljarri and
Jungarrayi men who travelled from Kurlurngalinypa (near Lajamanu) to
Yanjirlypirri (west of Yuendumu) and then on to Lake Mackay on the West
Australian border. Along the way they performed ‘kurdiji’ (initiation
ceremonies) for young men. Women also danced for the ‘kurdiji’. The site
depicted in this canvas is Yanjirlypiri (star) where there is a low
hill and a water soakage. The importance of this place cannot be
overemphasized as young boys are brought here to be initiated from as
far as Pitjanjatjara country to the south and Lajamanu to the north. In
contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to
represent the Jukurrpa, associated sites and other elements. Often
depicted in paintings for this Jukurrpa is the female star Yantarlarangi
(Venus - the Evening Star) who chases the seven Napaljarri sisters for
having stolen the night from her.