Amy Ngurnta Nuggett - Nomad Art

Artist: Amy Ngurnta Nuggett
Art Centre: Mangkaja Arts
Region: Kimberley

Artwork Story

I was born in Karnanganyjawutu then went to Japingka to live with my grandfather and grandmother until I was older. Then we left for Wili which is the country for the Jukula mob. We picked up the rest of the mob and left to go to Puluwala, walking in the moonlight night because it was so hot. After leaving Puluwala we walked to Purrpun and camped with my grandfather Walkarr and grandmother Jawili. Then they sent Mawukura Jimmy Nerrimah to go ahead to Kurugnal. We followed later and made camp at Lumpu Lumpu whilst waiting for the rest of the people to arrive.

The workers from Cherrabun Station saw a bushfire at Yapulu and thought there must be bushmen there. The police tracked them there at Yapulu, chained them up and took them into Cherrabun Station. They workers were frightened of the police. We camped one night at Cherrabun and then went into town to the police station. Following this, we went back to Cherrabun Station to work.

My father passed away at Cherrabun Station and then my mother and I went on to Jubilee Station, across the Fitzroy river. From there I went to the Mission School in Fitzroy Crossing. I stayed there until one Christmas I didn’t want to go back. I went to Jubilee Station instead and learnt how to work, cleaning the manager’s house. We had Saturdays and Sundays off. One Monday my promised husband came from GoGo Station to pick me up and we went to live at GoGo and then Bayulu Community.