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Ngurunderi
travelled through what is now Ngarrindjeri country he came down the Murray
River in his canoe. At that time it was just a small stream. Ngurunderi was looking for his two wives who
had run away from him and was following Pondi, the big Murray Cod who had
created the twists and turns of the river when sweeping his huge tail from side
to side. Ngurunderi was trying to spear
Pondi all the way along the journey.
Together they formed the Murray River, lakes and landforms and everything in
Ngarrindjeri Country. Ngurunderi made the rain that feeds the river and the
country. With the rain came the rainbow, which can be seen in this painting. Ngurunderi also made the Ngarrindjeri people,
who live along and around the River Murray, lakes, the Coorong region and
across to Cape Jervis and the southern regions of what is now Adelaide.
Ngurunderi travelled with his family and they also played a part in the
creation of Ngarrindjeri country.
Ngurunderi taught everyone the lore, dance, song, how to hunt and live and everything they
needed to survive in their country.
When they reached Lake Alexandrina Nepele,
Ngurunderi’s brother in law,
helped spear and kill Pondi.
Ngurunderi cut Pondi into many pieces,
each piece creating a new species of fish that now populates the river
system. Ngurunderi never did catch his
wives who drowned when crossing to Kangaroo Island, which was still joined to the mainland at
that time. At this point Ngurunderi
joined the spirit world becoming a star in the Milky Way.
In July 2015 Cedric was given a grant by Arts SA. for professional development
and cultural research. With the support
of Better World Arts, Cedric pursued an
intensive program of studying archived
information at the South Australian Museum. He
spent time talking to Ngarrindjeri elders and researching his
Ngarrindjeri heritage in some depth.
During the same time period Cedric undertook some developmental
workshops focused on his painting. These
workshops provided life drawing, brush techniques and colour theory
components, providing tools and
knowledge for Cedric to include in the technical sides of his art.
The results of these inputs into Cedric’s artistic and cultural development
were immediately evident. Cedric
continues to develop as an artist.