This work discusses events that happened at Gurrumurru involving ancestral spirit Birrinydji. The miny’tji or cross hatched design is a sacred signature that embodies the outside story and the non secular. This painting was first revealed publicly in 2008 by artist Yumutjin Wunuŋmurra and a recording was made of the artist talking of it. Although there is no direct reference to the associations Yolngu had with the seafaring Maccassan’s the translation is obvious that the ancient songlines of the Dhalwangu clan contain strong element of the Indonesian annual visitations to this region. The mere mention of steel knives, pillows, tobacco, cards, money and alcohol in these songs enforce the anthropological record of Maccassan visitation over the centuries till the very early 1900’s.  Yolŋu dancing this story also action the events of below.

Yo, dhay’yiŋayambalk, manikayŋanapurrŋulaŋin start. Ŋayambalklil Gurrumurulil, `iya-yikinyŋanapurrŋulan `akaram. Ŋamaŋamayunŋayiŋulan bokman Ba`awukuwa, Djinydjiraywa, Mawu`mirriwa, Gandjamarrwa, Birrapirrawa, Balaṉḏaṯthu mokuyu Ḻiya-yikiy. Ŋamaŋamayunŋanapurrŋulan, wurrukunduŋayiŋulan Bothanydja Wirrwirrun, Gapanydja. Gapanydja Bothanydja wirrwirryun, nhanukuŋ, Lambutjuyirrya, Gurrumuru Botha ga wurrukunduŋayiŋulan marrtjintdja, nhamanydja,ŋayambalktja goḏuny. Wo dhukarrkurr, dhukarrŋayiŋulan muŋdhun Marrpala, Borumbirr Yarrwayarrwa, nhamanydjaŋayiŋulan. Beŋurŋayi marrtji nhinanydjaŋayiŋulan warraw’lilya Ga`itjpilil Dharwullil. Yo nhinanydjaŋayiŋulan warraw’lil wandalil. Ḻaŋayiŋulan beŋuryinydja baluŋandu, murraykanharawu yakurrwu nhanŋuŋulan guṉdjurrundu, guṉdjurruŋanya muŋdhunŋulan walandu. Ḻäŋayiŋulan yukurrwu, Yukurrunhaŋurya,ŋayiŋulan gaŋgathirrya. Läŋayiŋulan Djotjandu, waralinygundu,ŋaraliwanduŋayiŋulan Djotja galurru’mirrwandu wo bamudukamirrwu. Mulwaṯ warrayŋurukuwuy linygu wäŋawa Gurrumuruwuy, yo gaŋgathirryaŋayiŋulanŋa`a’yunŋunhan benydjal gapalagum. Ŋayambalk Yanydja Yanydjarraŋayiŋulan Gapalagum Yanydja, Mäyarra Buruyarra. Dutjunŋayiŋulan, nhä malany nhämaŋayiŋulan, `äŋayiŋulan märram ḏopulundu, dhalidhalindu. Bu`’yunŋayiŋulan nhälil wäŋaŋur, start manikay. Yo dhawar’yunŋayiŋulan beŋur gärulŋur.ŋayiŋulan nyäm makarr waŋgurru, dharrimaŋayiŋulan nhäm,ŋawatthundja dharrima, märramanydja Balukarri, `äŋayiŋulan Bäla nhäm, makarr Djarrimili Waŋgurru Galatjarra. ingtDhunarraŋayiŋulan, `äŋayiŋulan märramanduŋänitjiŋunhan `äŋayi marramanduŋänitji, märramanydjaŋayiŋunhanŋänitjiŋunhan, `ä djimbaŋbu, guṉdjurruw wutthunaraw, rrorruŋanya wurruku rrawuṉmirri ŋuriŋan, buthu`umirriy, Djimbaŋdjaŋayiŋulan, beŋuryaŋayiŋulan dhawar’yundjaŋayiŋulan djimbaŋ, yikiri djimbaŋŋanyaŋulanŋanya ŋulan, `äŋayiŋulan `ati marramandu wo dhungalyu bunharamirr, dhungalyu wo yiki. Maltjaṉa’ nhanŋu manikayŋunhalayinydja manapan wurruku waŋganylilya lakaram. Yo ḏutjundhiŋayi gurruku `ä maṉḏa gurruku yarrarrayunmaramandu goki maṉḏa. Goki’ maṉḏanydhu gurruku yarrarra’yunmaram botjuŋnha, batjikali birraliwaŋatha lanydjarraŋaw, lanydjarrŋawŋathaw, birrathaw dhay’yinydjaŋarra yukurr lakaram. Ḻanydjarrŋaw, birraliw djimbaŋŋanya gurrukuŋunhamal bamuniyalil. Nyaŋ’thundjaŋayiŋulan gadu matjiŋtjaŋayiŋulan, wekundja wiṉḏirrwiṉḏirrlil dampulil, baku`urrtjalil gu`unŋunhanŋayi yolu. Yoŋulan dji`awurrya birrpumanduŋunhaŋathandu, limakayyunbuŋayi gulurrpumandu wäŋaŋunhaŋin yanydja. Guŋnharrayi retjaŋurya manikay malanynha. Ga guŋnharrayiŋayi wäyinŋunhanŋayi nhä bokmar rulwaŋthurrŋunhamalyi diltjilil wäŋalil goḏulil. Yo djilawurrwuŋäthinŋayiŋulan Yiwarrwanŋunhaŋinbdjaŋayiŋulan `irrga’yun ḏirrmalawandu. Dirrmalaw yiwarrwu, ga beŋuryinydja, yiwarrŋurdja, `uŋgurrmanydja barkparkthun, dhawar’yundja, `ä djäpananduŋunhalŋal’yun, djäpanaŋurwu gulkundjaŋunhalya Gurrumuruya manikay, yakanduŋayi gurruku giṯthundja bulu waŋganyŋulil manikaylil.

Which can translate to; This is my home and this is a songline about Gurrumuru. Birrinydji the warrior thinks about knives. These songs contain deep names of the spirit of Birranydji. People went out with Birranydji to clear an area, preparing it, to make it straight, to make it special, to make it sacred, a place where Dhalwangu can be attached. After the clearing they walk over the paths finding a large shady tree where the work done was assessed. While resting Birrinydji put his head down on a pillow and slept. On waking and yearning for tobacco he smoked. After smoking they played cards where he won money. With his winnings he went to the main house and bought things on offer. Here he bought grog and on drinking it felt the desire to dance. He danced with the knives as if a shadow boxer. After the dance they cooked rice which they put out on arranged plates. When eating was over in the afternoon the leftovers were thrown on the ground. Smelling this the scrub fowl Djilawurr came in to eat bringing the north wind Lungurrna with him. This marked the end of the day with the sunset of Djapana.Add product gallery images