Tjawina Porter Nampitjinpa

D.O.B c.1940

Birthsite: Wiirulywiirulyu, which is south west of Tjukurla. Tjukurla is to the north of Docker River in Western Australia. Tjawina also has a totemic Birthplace which is Wapurta, just north of Pangkupirri. Wapurta is where in the Dreaming Time many dogs converge to attack and eat a sacred Kangaroo. This story is sacred for Ngaatjatjarra/Ngaanyatjarra people and other tribes which are connected to this sacred story by the story line and song line.

Language/Tribal Group: Ngaatjatjarra.

Historical: Tjawina grew up in the Tjukurla,Pangkupirri and the Rawlinson Ranges area in Western Australia. Tjawina Porter Nampitjinpa is a half sister to Nyurapayia Nampitjinpa ( aka Mrs.Bennett ) and Esther Giles Nampitjinpa. Tjawina grew up ‘in the bush’ with her family. In the late 1970`s Tjawina, then a widow, along with her children, moved to the Government settlement of Papunya, during this time she also lived at the newly established outstation of Yai Yai for about a year. Tjawina then returned to live in Docker River. In the late 1980`s Tjawina and her sister Esther moved with their respective families to Tjukurla to help establish it as new community. Tjawina is known for her skill as a traditional basket weaver as well as her prominence as a painter.

Painting: Tjawina paints her mother’s and her father’s dreaming, the sites of
Yumari, Pangkupirri, Tjukurla and Tjarlirli. These sites are important for ceremonies and as sources for water and important bush foods.