Lukarrara Jukurrpaby Julie Napurrurla Gordon

Artwork: Lukarrara Jukurrpa
Artist: Julie Napurrurla Gordon

This Jukurrpa Belongs to women of the Nakamarra/ Napurrurla subsections and to Jakamarra/ Jupurrurla men. This Dreaming is associated with a place called Jaralypari, north of Yuendumu. Lukarrara (desert fringe-rush (Fimbristylis oxystachya and Fimbristylis eremophila) is a grass with an edible seed. The seeds are traditionally ground on a large stone ('ngatinyani')with a smaller stone ('Ngapa') to make damper cakes which are cooked and eaten.

In Aboriginal Warlpiri traditional paintings iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, a particular sties and other elements. large concentric circles often represent the site of Jaralypari and also the seed bearing grass Lukurrara. 'U' shapes can depict the Karnte (women) collecting 'jukurrara' and straight lines are frequently used to portray seeds that fall down to the ground and are also collected by Warlpiri women using their 'parrajas' (Wooden food carriers) and Karlangu.