Namarnkol, the barramundi, is a very important fish for us Bininj (Aboriginal people). Namarnkol are found in the ocean, in floodwaters, and in freshwater billabongs, rivers and creeks. In the old days, people used to spear them with djalakirradj (three-pronged fish spears) and walabi (traditional triangular nets). Nowadays, we catch them with fishing lines and modern nets. Namarnkol are most easily caught from the end of the monsoon (March -April) until the humid “build up” season (October-November). There are sites in lots of clan countries where the ancestral Barramundi placed itself as a Dreaming. Men and women will say “My Dreaming is Barramundi, it placed itself in my country”.

Nawu Namarnkol djenj nakka wanjh nadjalkuken djenj ngadberre nawu ngarrikukburlerri dja birrikukbele. Namarnkol kare kore kurrula yika kabirriyime kore mibokala dja kukku kubowinjku kore mankabo manlabbarl manwanjdjad. Bu korroko birridanjbuni djalakkiradj dja walabi birrimangi. Dja bolkkime wanjh wakkidj karrimang dja balandakenh nawu walabi. Namarkol djang kadjangdi kore kubolkwarlah kunred bedberre kore namarnkol djangkurrmerrinj bu korroko duninjh. Wanjh nawu bininj dja daluk kayime ngaye djang ngarduk namarnkol djangkurrmerrinj kore kunred ngarduk.

Size 76 x 82 cm | Medium Paper | Catalogue # 286-22 | Year 2022

Artist  Roland Burrunali

Roland Burrunali is the son of Marlene and Isaiah Burrunali. Roland is the Djungkayi (ritual manager) for Namorrordo, the devil-like spirit man.

As well as being a gifted artist, Roland guides tours of Injalak Hill and shares his extensive knowledge of the rock art with tourists from all around Australia and the world. He is also a member of the Injalak Arts Management Committee.

In July 2016 Roland represented Injalak Arts at the Wearables exhibition at the Festival del Caribe in Santiago de Cuba. In 2017 he was selected as a finalist in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA).

further details

Size 76 x 82 cm
Medium  Paper
Catalogue # 286-22
Year 2022