Raymaŋgirrbuy dhäwu, When I was a little girl
‘When I stayed out bush I sat with my grandmother and watched her paint. I used to get boxes and paint on. She painted with ochres and glue. Later she showed me how to make the marawat (hair) brush to do the fine line work.’ — KGM
An artistically stunning story of Kylie Gatjawarrawuy Mununggurr’s life growing up on her grandmothers Country in Raymangirr, a remote Yolŋu homeland in North East Arnhem Land in the Top End of Australia.
Told in both Djambarrpuyŋuand and English, Raymaŋgirrbuy dhäwu, When I was a little girl is a sweet story of the author’s experiences with her grandmother and her community. From learning to grind ochre and paint, to hunting for bush honey (guku), ceremonial dances, and full-moon night fishing with a big shark, each vignette of Kylie’s life is filled with humour and nostalgia for her peaceful childhood.
Developed with the support of Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts centre and Kylie’s mother and grandmother, young readers will experience life in Raymaŋgirr country and gain important insights into cultural practices.
Kylie Gatjawarrawuy Mununggurr was born in Darwin and moved to Gapuwiyak with her mother where she started school. When a school opened on her grandmother’s country Raymaŋgirr Kylie went to school there. The language of Raymaŋgirr is Marraŋu but this story is told in Djambarrpuyŋu because everyone understands Djambarrpuyŋu in Northeast Arnhem Land, although there are many other languages.
