Mala Jukurrpa (Rufous Hare-wallaby Dreaming) by Jereline Nungarrayi Brown

This story starts at Mawurrungu to the south-west of Yuendumu. The Mala Dreaming travels from there to Yinjirrimardi and then further on to Yanturnpuru and Jila, far to the west of Yuendumu. ‘Mala’ (rufous hare-wallaby [Lagorchestes hirsutus]) live in hollows dug under spinifex clumps. ‘Mala’ are difficult to hunt as they run very fast throughout their habitat in the spinifex country. In Warlpiri traditional paintings iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. In many painted versions of this story, men can be seen hunting for ‘mala’ among the spinifex with ‘karli’ (boomerangs) and ‘warlpa’ (spears). Men of the Jungarrayi, Japaljarri, Japanangka and Japangardi moiety are the ‘kirda’ (custodians) of this Jukurrpa while men of the Jangala, Jampijinpa, Jupurrurla and Jakamarra moiety are the ‘kurdungurlu’ (ceremonial police) of this Dreaming. The ceremony associated with this Dreaming is complementary to the Jardiwarnpa fire ceremony where the custodian and ceremonial police roles are reversed.