Rrugurrgurda (mud crab) * Burarra

This design tells the story of Elizabeth’s homeland – a dreaming place, a good dreaming place with plenty of mud crabs. Elizabeth’s homeland lies east of Maningrida, at the mouth of the Blyth river. This country is known for a large spiritual mud crab, which lives in the area.

Many families collect crabs to eat there with long sticks, or collect directly from the shores. Mud crabs hide in the muddy bottoms of estuaries and mangrove forests surrounding Maningrida. After a king tide, a large cyclical tide that brings the crabs out from the mangroves, it is a good time to find crabs.

Rrugurrgurda (mud crabs) is pronounced Ahh-rewg-gurd-gurda in the Burarra language. Rrugurrgurda are good baladji (bush food in Burarra) and can be caught all year round. They are put on the fire to cook, and they are ready when they turn a bright orange colour.