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 Pitjantjatjara
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.