The people of western Arnhem Land believe that Mimi spirits live in a social organization similar to Aboriginal people and that Mimi society existed before humans. Mimi are credited with instructing the first people with knowledge relating to survival in the rocky environment of the Arnhem Land plateau. Mimi are said to have taught the first humans how to hunt and butcher game and also how to dance, sing and paint.

Mimi are terribly thin, having necks so slender that a stiff breeze would be fatal. For this reason they emerge only on windless day and night to hunt. As soon as a breeze develops, the Mimi are said to run back to their rocky caverns and disappear inside.

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