G’day, I am Kitpi. I was born at a place in the southern Kimberley where kudjarrawana, two quiet snakes, were travelling in the Djugultji. “Djugultji” is what whitefellas call Dreamtime.

My first languages are Walmajarri and Mangala. The first time I saw white fellas, my old people were killing cattle and sheep. No clothes those days. Policemen came up and put chains on my father and the other blokes. The police went lead riding horses, the rest of us, my dad, his mates, our mothers, and we little naked fellas came along behind on foot. It was a hard job keeping up with the mob.

When we got to Noonkanbah the big people got flogged all over with green sticks. It was a very bad thing to see happening. Some bush blokes were taken to jail, and the others were let go. My dad got a letter from the policeman who told him to go to Nerrima Station (ranch) and show it to the manager. Dad was not a read and write bloke. He chucked it away when we got out of sight of the police, and we followed him back to our home country.

When I was getting whiskers a little bit, I went to Nerrima station and worked for tucker (food), no money for blackfellas them days. My dad did not worry for stations. He was a bushman.

Nerima was a sheep station. Later on, I went working on cattle stations, riding horses and driving cattle to Derby and Broome. Open range cattle work was a hard job, big danger, but more fun for young blokes than mustering sheep on foot.

Lately I am having a go at painting with my brother and our wives who are sisters. We have got a big story to tell and canvas is good for telling the story. I am very happy to meet you.

Gunyarru Karlaini Gorrgu ∙ 29 x 47 ∙ acrylic on canvas ∙ $2,200