DOB: 1959
BORN: Yuendumu, Northern Territory
LANGUAGE GROUP: Warlpiri
COMMUNITY: Yuendumu, Northern Territory

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Elsie is an artist from Yuendumu (a community approximately 300 kms north west of Alice Springs) and is known for her exceptionally fine dot work and stunning depictions of Mina Mina Jukurrpa (Mina Mina Dreaming). Elsie is also an active member of the Yuendumu Community working in many of the Aboriginal-owned and governed organisations within the community. 

The Jukurrpa story tells of the journey of a group of women of all ages who travelled to the east gathering food, collecting ngalyipi (snake vine [Tinospora smilacina]) and performing ceremonies as they travelled. The women began their journey at Mina Mina where karlangu (digging sticks) emerged from the ground. Taking these implements the women travelled east creating Janyinki and other sites. Their journey took them far to the east beyond the boundaries of Warlpiri country. The ngalyipi vine grows up the trunks and limbs of the kurrkara (desert oak [Allocasuarina decaisneana]) trees. Ngalyipi is a sacred vine to Napangardi and Napanangka women that has many uses. It can be used as a ceremonial wrap, as a strap to carry parrajas (wooden bowls) that are laden with bush tucker and as a tourniquet for headaches.

Another of Elsie's regularly depicted Jukurrpa comes from her father – Jayinki Jukurrpa – which is related to Janyinki Country (Elsie's traditional Country), close to Yuendumu. Although this Jukurrpa is often associated with men’s ceremonial activity in that Country, it is also related to sites where women travelled to collect bush foods.

Source: The Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation