Awelye for Ahakeye, Alpar & Ntang Artey

Alvira Bird

$795.00

Alvira paints Awelye (Women’s Ceremonial and Body Paint Designs) for Ahakeye (Bush Plum) and Alpar (Rat-Tail Plant).

The Ahakeye is a very important story for Alvira that belongs to her country, Ilkawerne (El-go-an-na). The ahakeye, called bush plum in English by Alvira, is also known as the native currant or citrus. This shrub produces small white flowers, deep green citrus-like leaves and the ahakeye, which are black when ripe and very small. This fruit is favoured for its sweet taste and can be reconstituted in water if dry.

Alpar, the rat-tail goosefoot or green crumbweed plant, is a small, erect herb that is sticky to touch and scented heavily of citrus. Growing especially well in Mulga tree communities, it is found in abundance in Alvira’s home in the Utopia Region, north east of Alice Springs.