Justin Butler

Justin Butler is an aboriginal man from Kalkadoon people of the Mt Isa region and Bandjin people of Munnamadahamee (Hinchinbrook Island). Justin’s totem is the Emu foot from his Kalkadoon lineage and Yimba (pelican) from his Bandjin lineage. Justin also has ties and connections to the Jirrabal, Warragamay, and Tagalaka Aboriginal people.

The Dingo and the Kangaroo storyline

This artwork describes a storyline that is known and shared across the North East coast of Far North QLD. It commences around the Gordonvale area and continues along the coast to the south until it finishes around the cape Cleveland region (South of Townsville). The story describes an ahm-aree (hungry) Gahndu (Dingo) who is craving Manara (Kangaroo) minya (meat). Gahndu chases Manara across all the land and waterways spanning across the distance of where the storyline is shared. Gahndu couldn’t catch Manara and remains at his resting location, Castle Hill (Townsville). Manara was too quick for Gahndu and remains at his location to this day, Cape Cleveland (south of Townsville). Vines grow up the trunks and limbs of the Kurrkara (Desert Oak, Allocasuarina decaisneana) trees. Ngalyipi is a vine sacred to Napangardi and Napananagka women and has many uses, including as a ceremonial wrap, as a strap to carry Parrajas (wooden bowls) laden with bush tucker, and as a tourniquet for headaches.