Theo Hudson

Theo Hudson - About the Artwork Vaughan Springs Dreaming (Pikilyi Jukurrpa)

Pikilyi is a large and important waterhole & natural spring near Mount Doreen Station.

Pikilyi Jukurrpa (Vaughan Springs Dreaming) tells of the home of the two rainbow serpents, ancestral heroes who lived together as man and wife.

The woman 'rainbow serpent' was of the Napanangka skin group, the man was Japangardi.

This was a taboo relationship contrary to Walpiri religious law.

Women of the Napanangka and Napangardi subsection sat by the two serpents, picking lice off them.

For this service, the two serpents allowed the women to take water from the springs at Pikilyi.  This was because the serpents were 'kirda', or ceremonial owners, for that country.

The spirits of these two rainbow serpents are still at Pikilyi today.

This Dreamings belongs to the women and men of the Japanangka/Napanangka & Japangardi/Napangardi skin groups.