Kandji (Jabiru)

‘Minmanyarr is the wetlands area before Mumeka, my homeland. There are always a lot of birds there, including this Kandji (Jabiru). The Kandji belongs to the Yirridja moiety, so I call this bird mother. They are looking for fish and turtle in the billabong area, in the mud. There is also wayuk (water lily) in this design, the flowers can be pink, white or yellow. The bottom part with the roots we call bulparr. Wayuk is good manme (food). We eat the yellow seedpods inside.’ Deborah Wurrkidj