Ngurunderi Dreaming

The story of Ngurunderi begins where the Darling and Murray Rivers meet and it is a story of how Ngurunderi chases his two wives who had run away after a quarrel, all the way to the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula. Along the journey Ngurunderi created plants, animals, land formations and the Mighty Murray River.

‘A long, long time ago Ngurunderi our Spiritual Ancestor chased Pondi, the giant Murray Cod, from the junction where the Darling and Murrundi (River Murray) meet. Back then, the River Murray was just a small stream and Pondi had nowhere to go. As Ngurunderi chased him in his bark canoe he went ploughing and crashing through the land and his huge body and tail created the mighty River Murray. When Ngurunderi and his brother-in-law Nepele caught Pondi at the place where the fresh and salt water meet they cut him up into many pieces, which became the fresh and salt water fish for the Ngarrindjeri people. To the last piece Ngurunderi said “You keep being a Pondi (Murray Cod).” As Ngurunderi travelled throughout our Country, he created landforms, waterways and life. He gave to his people the stories, meanings and laws associated with our lands and waters of his creation. He gave each Lakalinyeri (clan) our identity to our Yarluwar-Ruwe (country) and our Ngartjis (animals, birds, fish and plants) – who are our friends. Ngurunderi taught us how to hunt and gather our foods from the lands and waters. He taught us, don’t be greedy, don’t take any more than you need, and share with one another.’

Date of Creation | 17th Sep 2024

Size | W: 42cm x L 31.6cm

Medium | Acrylics (Jo Sonja Matte Flow) on cotton canvas.

Duration | 5hrs