24-568 – Cyril Whyoulter

“In the Dreamtime there were two men [Wati Kujarra (Two Goanna Men)], an old man with ngarnkurrpa (beards) and his brother living there at Punkulyi. They dreaming in Parnngurr area. They yapu (hill, rock) now. They been digging for water. They dug all the parna (earth, ground) out of the ground, digging and searching for water. They got tired and stayed there. They still there.” 

 – Cyril Whyoulter

Punkulyi forms part of the Mackay Range, south west of Parnngurr community. Cyril’s grandmother and great grandmother were born around this Country, and through them this area forms part of Cyril’s ngurra (home Country, camp).

As Cyril describes, Punkulyi features as an important site in the Wati Kujarra (Two Goanna Men) Jukurrpa (Dreaming).  Wati Kujarra is a central Jukurrpa narrative for Martu. The Wati Kujarra existed as half men, half goanna. They were responsible for the creation of many land features in Martu Country, including Punkulyi, where they remain as rock forms today. Wati Kujarra is a ngurlu (sacred, taboo) men’s story, and for this reason much of the content is only shared with initiated men.