Djanda the Goanna

This painting depicts elements of the ancestral story of Djankawu, two sisters who were ancestral beings. They held great importance to the Aboriginals of the Dhuwa moiety of Central and North East Arnhem Land. The painting represents part of their journey at the time of creation.  The two Sisters followed the morning star from east to west, stopping along the way to give birth to the Dhuwa moiety clans and give them their laws , rituals and ceremonies.  The Djankawu Sisters also gave the clans sacred totems and objects specific to the clan and areas of land they caretake.

This painting depicts Djanda, the sacred totemic goanna. Djanda was the first living creature seen by the Djankawu.  The cross-hatching shows aspects of the environment such as sandhills, sand falling away as the goanna travels across the sandhill, goanna tracks.