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Aboriginal Tourism - Indigenous Australia - Iconography and Symbols |
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The dotted motifs of much of today’s Aboriginal modern design work has become
the trademark of the contemporary Aboriginal Art movement. Its iconic status
developed from a culture stretching back into the history of an ancient land,
evolving and weaving into desert dreamtime stories. One of the popular imagery
of bush tucker include the iconic honey ants. In their depiction of the honey
ants, many artist stamp their own unique way of portraying the honey ant,
whether it is a close facsimile of the insect, a unique clustering arrangement
or a modern take that may emphasise a particular pattern. |
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Road Trains of
Australia
© Hans Boessem |
Honey Ants - Aboriginal Symbols, Icons and Imagery
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Honey ants are ants that have been gorged with food by worker ants, so much so
that their abdomens swell, functioning as a living larder. The ants are fed by
the collected honeydew made by the Red Mulga Lerp, Austrotachardia acaciae
(Kurkunytjungu)1.
The sweet nectar makes it one of the popular bush tucker eaten by the Indigenous
Aborigines of Australia, especially in Central Australia and the Northern
Territory. Women search for the nests of the honey ants, found in the roots of a
specific Mulga tree. The honey ants dig deep underground tunnels and chambers
where they live. The women search for the drill holes under the trees, that give
away their presences. Using their wooden digging sticks, although now this may
be replaced by shovels and metal bars, the women dig down, following the honey
ants tunnels (nyinantu), until they find the ants, which are collected in the
coolamons. |
Road Trains of
Australia
© Hans Boessem |
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Classification |
| Kingdom: |
Animalia |
| Phylum: |
Arthropoda |
| Class: |
Insecta |
| Order: |
Hymenoptera |
| Family: |
Formicidae |
| Subfamily: |
Formicinae |
| Tribe: |
Camponotini |
| Genus: |
Camponotus |
| Species: |
Camponotus inflatus |
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| Common name: |
Honey ant |
| Arrernte name: |
Yerrampe, Agkwarle Yerrampe |
| Luritja name: |
Tjupi |
| Pitjantjatjara name: |
Tjala |
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Yurumpi - Honey Ant © Rex Sultan-Jabangardi (Keyteye, NT)
The symbolism is this story shows women with their digging sticks and coolamon
hunting for honey ants. The painting depicts the honey ant chambers and the
connecting tunnels. |
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The Honey Ant is said to be the earthly manifestations of the Seven Sisters, has
their own ‘Honey Ant Dreaming’ and is a bush food delicacy, the honey ant is
often depicted in many Aboriginal art work, especially those works about bush
tucker. The ‘Honey Ant Dreaming’ belongs to the Warlpiri people in Central
Australia. Yuelamu is the home
of ‘Honey Ant Dreaming’, as well as being the burial place of one of the Western
Desert most famous sons, Clifford Tjapaltjarri Possum. Gabriella Possum Nungurayyi, daughter of the late Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, depicts the story
of the seven Napaltjarri sisters being chased by a man named Jilbi Tjakamarra.
In their journey, the sisters sat down at Uluru to search for honey ants. This
is her dreaming (or creation story).2 Aboriginal artist that
have depicted the ‘Honey Ant Dreaming’ include Mick Wikilyiri, Lucy Kngwarreye
Morton, Maureen Purvis, Melissa Ross, Sharon Numina, Janet Forrester Ngala,
Cecily Napanangka Granites Granites, Nikkita Nangala Sampson. Clifford Possum
Tjapaltjarri ‘Yuelamu Honey Ant Dreaming’ has been reproduced with the
permission of the artist as the feature coin in the 2007 Masterpieces in Silver
coin range. The actual painting is part of the collection of the Art Gallery of
South Australia.3 |
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