Destiny by Wukun Wanambi

Destiny
lino cut colour reduction, 2017
1144-17-44/44

The fish are swimming up to the monolithic rock in Trial Bay called Bamurruņu. These fish are marparrarr or milk fish, like a large mullet. These were once people of the stone country behind where my Marrakulu clan now live close to the mouth of the Gurka'wuy River. Mullet travel from river to river, ocean to ocean, looking for their destiny. We sing a song, and dance as well, to carry the tide of Gurkawuywater, bringing the guya (fish) in to the river, to Trial Bay. There are other places exactly like this sung by Marraŋu and Golumala. They sing the song here, where the three rivers come together at the base of the rock underwater bubbling up through the seawater. The water is called Gudultja and they are looking for their destiny, just like you and I tracing our family tree on a computer, looking for our great, great grandfathers and grandmothers.

WUKUN WANAMBI
BUKU-LARRŅGAYMULKA, ARNHEMLAND