Why is there a donkey in that painting?
Before the Western art world had heard of Rover Thomas, Queenie McKenzie, Rusty Peters, Mabel Juli, Hector Jandany and Patrick Mung Mung as artists, these people were teachers, painting to educate their children and their families. When the east Kimberley community of Warmun established the Ngalangangpum School in 1979, paintings and handmade items were used to teach younger Gija generations. This two-way curriculum, requested by the elders, saw Gija language and culture taught alongside “Western” subjects.