Pamapardu Janganpa

Pamapardu Janganpa Jukurrpa (Flying ant and Possum Dreaming).

This painting depicts the Pamapardu Jukurrpa – Flying Ant Dreaming) from Warntungurru, west of Yuendumu.

Pamapardu is the Warlpiri name for the flying ants or termites that build the large anthills found throughout Warlpiri country. This country belongs to Nakamarra/Napurrurla women and Jakamarra/Jupurrurla men.

Pamapardu are flying ants. They build earth mounds (Mingkirri) that are common in the Tanami area. When Heavy rains comes in summer the mingkirri get flooded out, so the pamapardu grow wings and fly off to make new homes, following their queens to dry mounds or to build a new. When they have found their new home, they drop their wings. In this stage they can be collected, lightly cooked in coals and eaten. As they fall to the ground women collect them to eat because they are nice and sweet.

In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. When this Jukurrpa story is painted concentric circles are used to represent the Mingkirri and the rockholes involved in the story, including the central one at Wapurtali (Mt Singleton). Dashes are often depicted around the circles to represent the « Pamapardu ».