Nyunmiti Burton Ngayuku ngura (my country)

Nyunmiti Burton was born in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) in 1960 and raised in Pukatja on the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in South Australia. In 1980 she moved to Amata and trained to become a teacher. She is the vice chairperson of Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council, and holds senior positions within her community.

This painting is Seven Sisters tjukurpa. The sisters make up the constellation of Pleiades, and the constellation Orion is said to be the man Nyiru or Nyirunya.

Nyunmiti Burton says: ‘I heard these stories from my father, mother and grandfathers. I think about the future of the country for the next generation.’

APY Gallery, Adelaide, 2021