Ngalyipi Jukurrpa - Yanjirlpiri

The country associated with this Ngalyipi Jukurrpa is located at Yanjirlpiri (Mount Nicker) to the west of Yuendumu in Central Australia. The owners of this Dreaming are the Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women and the Japaljarri/Jungarrayi men.

Ngalyipi is a green creeper that climbs up the trunks and branches of trees and shrubs. The plant is found on sandy spinifex plains and sandhills. Ngalyipi is frequently depicted in paintings due to it's many uses and it's great ceremonial importance. The vine can be used as a shoulder strap to carry Parraja (Coolamons)and Ngami (Water Carriers). The plant also has medicinal uses - it's vines are used as tourniquets, and it's leaves and vines are used as bandages for wounds. Warlpiri people sometimes also chew the leaves to treat severe colds. Ngalyipi stems can be pounded between stones and tied around the forehead to cure headaches. 

In men's initiation ceremonies Ngalyipi is used to tie the Witi to the shins of the dancing initiates and to tie Yukurruyukurru to the dancers bodies. The initiation ceremonies associated with the Ngalyipi Dreaming at Yanjirlpiri are for the sons and grandsons of Japaljarri and Jungarrayi men. Napaljarri and Nungarrayi women dance at these ceremonies and then look away and block their ears when the men dance. This Witi ceremony is performed at night under the stars. 

The importance of Yanjirlpiri cannot be overemphasized - as young boys are brought here to be initiated from as far away as the Pitjantjatjara Lands to the south and from Lajamanu to the north. A number of major Dreaming tracks pass through Yanjirlpiri in addition to the Ngalyipi Jukurrpa including Karnta Jukurrpa and Wata-Jarra Jukurrpa. Yanjirlpiri is also important due to it's association with a major Janganpa Jukurrpa.