Paulina Puruntatameri
Paulina Puruntatameri, also known as Jedda, is a senior Cultural Leader and advisor to the Munupi Boards of Directors.
*“I only started painting a few years ago, but I was already working at Munupi, providing Tiwi language translations for stories connected to our paintings. My interests are protecting and preserving culture, language, art, and songs.
One of my passions is digital archiving and repatriation of old artefacts taken from the Tiwi Islands. One day, they will return to their rightful place.”
“It is for our future generations to learn, respect, and embrace their culture—who they are and where they come from. We, as Tiwi people, are the custodians of our land and sea.”
“In my painting of Maruti, the Jikipayinga (female crocodile), she comes from salt water into fresh water to build her nest and lay eggs. When she leaves to find food, the Tiwi people would steal her eggs—and she returns very angry.”