Brush-tailed Possum Dreaming by Bessie Nakamarra Sims

Currently on show in the Netherlands. Bessie Sims, born in 1932, is the wife of Paddy Japaljarri Sims. Bessie was born in the bush and lived for many years before coming into contact with white people at Mt. Doreen Station, west of Yuendumu. She now lives in South Camp in Yuendumu and is an active member of Yuendumu Night patrol which helps keep Yuendumu a safe community. In her spare time she goes hunting for wardapi (goanna) and bush tucker such as yarla (bush potato) and yakajirri (bush tomato). The ‘kirda’ or custodians of the Janganpa Jukurrpa (common brush-tail possum Dreaming [Trichosurus vulpecula]) are Japaljarri/Jungarrayi men and Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women. Jupurrurla/Jakamarra men and Nupurrurla/Nakamarra women are the ‘kurdungurlu’ (ceremonial police) of this knowledge. ‘Janganpa’ are nocturnal animals that often nest in the hollows of white gum trees (‘wapunungka’). A common ‘janganpa’ story is about a ‘janganpa’ ancestor who travelled all over the Warlpiri lands visiting various sites during the time of the Jukurrpa (Dreamtime), including one site called Jangankurlangu, meaning literally ‘belonging to possum’. The ‘janganpa’ men carry their hunting weapons as they move around the country, wearing ‘majardi’ (hair string skirts). ‘Janganpa’ were once frequently found across much of Warlpiri and neighboring country but have become extinct in recent years. It is speculated that this extinction may be due to feral cat predation and the changes to their habitat caused by the introduction of cattle and other feral animals. The ‘janganpa’ is considered good meat for ‘yapa’ (Warlpiri people). In traditional Warlpiri iconography wavy lines and 'E' shapes are used to depict the tracks that the ‘janganpa’ left as he moved around. Cat. 3088/09

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