Dhuwarrwarr Marika
Mutjalanydjal III 2R
19.5 x 29.5cm: Paper:HANEMULLE 54 x 40cm

ID: 2-16

Mutjalanydjal is Dhuwa and represents the mother for Yirritja children (if the mother is Rirratjingu or Djambarrpuyungu.
Mutjalanydjal knows when Rirratjingu or Djambarrpuyngu mothers are pregnant or going to give birth. When Mutjalanydjal give birth to their babies, they throw the newborn up in the air and splash it with their tail. They have to teach the baby how to breathe.
When the placenta is born, the water goes calm around the birthing place.
After that the mother starts to cry and all the dolphins cradle and cuddle the child and start to cry and make noise and jump out of the water.
When we lose a baby, we cry and it’s the same for Mutjalanydjal. So that’s why it is important for both Dhuwa and Yirritja moiety, because humans and dolphins do the same thing.

Printed at Northern Editions 2004
(FMP 2R)