The Water Spirits called YawkYawk or Ngalkunburriyaymi are like mermaids. It can also mean ‘young woman’. In their mermaid form yawk yawk are female spiritual beings,usually associated with powerful conception sites within a clans country. They have long hair which is associated with trailing blooms of green algae found in freshwater streams and rock pools. At times they leave their aquatic homes to walk about dry land at night.

Provenance: Maningrida Arts and Crafts, N.T Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery, NSW