Bush Medicine by Natasha Beasley

Bush Medicine by Natasha BeasleyThis is my country, my view of country. Different kinds of plants grow during different seasons. There are lots of different medicines, we know what their stories are, we learnt them from our parents and we teach these stories to our children. Painting bush medicine stories is important because it helps to maintain a strong knowledge and culture for the community.

Ntyweyampe comes from two Anmatyerre words: ntywey meaning the Corkwood tree

Dolly uses dots to depict the kame while linear patterns represent the yam system beneath the ground

a type of wattle

The linear work in this painting represents the yam and flower

the Ahalpere people would collect plenty of them and store them dry

one called Atnwelarr which belongs to Amy's country

and then grind them into a powder that was used for making damper (bread)

Patrick and Benjamin and watch the AFL – even better is going to see my sons play for the Apungalingum Eagles in our local bush football competition

Anaty are desert yams which were once an important food source for Jeannie's people in Utopia

Nakita adores animals and the nomadic bush turkey

Dulcie paints the leaves and flowers of a pencil yam called atnwelarr

Above ground