Seven Sisters Nampitjinpa

KHATIJA Possum reminds us of the importance of the handing down of stories and their relevance to culture.

As the daughter of Michelle Possum Nungurrayi and Heath Ramzan Tjangala, she is a third generation artist with her grandfather being the legendary Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, renowned as a founding artist of contemporary indigenous art.

While Khatija's mother Michelle was taught to paint by Clifford, Khatija learnt to paint by observing and assisting her mother and has kept the culture alive as stories are passed down the generations.

The seven Napaljarri sisters live on as the cluster of seven stars known as The Pleiades. The Jampijinpa man Wardilyka is in love with the sisters and represents Orion's Belt. Jukurra-jukurra, the morning star, is a Jakamarra man who is also in love with the Napaljarri sisters. It was their final attempt to escape the Jakamarra that saw the Napaljarri sisters turn themselves into fire and ascend to become stars.

Often depicted in paintings for this dreaming is the female star Yantarlarangi (Venus - the Evening Star) who chases the sisters for having stolen the night from her.

Khatija continues to keep her heritage alive from her home in Melbourne.