Yimikirli =

the long version

The Jukurrpa or "Dreaming" is the basis of Warlpiri culture and law. It is the seminal story of the creation of the world, which continues to exist as the eternal present embodied in songs, stories, dance, and geographical locations. The Warlpiri believe that the Dreaming is always present, though people may forget or lose sight of it. The telling of these and other tales is essential in keeping the spirit of the Dreaming alive. This collection of fifteen stories from Warlpiri elders reflects the importance of the Dreaming in all of its manifestations. Recorded and translated here for the first time are stories rich with insight into Aboriginal spirituality and life - on subjects as diverse as adolescence, love, hatred, sexuality, marriage, family, war, peace, physical and psychological survival, and aging. Told with wisdom and elegance, and illustrated with Warlpiri art and maps, these narratives evoke the integral relationship between the Australian landscape and Aboriginal spirituality.