Arlatyeye

Eileen Bird

The designs in Eileen’s painting are influenced by the Arlatyeye (Pencil Yam) Story belonging to her country, Arnumarra.

In the Dreamtime there are two parts to this story, one that belongs to Alhalkere and Atnangkere countries, and the other that belongs to Arnumarra country. Two different seeds were born that created two different species of pencil yam; one called Atnwelarr which belongs to Alhalkere and Atnangkere countries, and the other called Arlatyeye which belongs to Eileen’s country. The Arlatyeye story is a major Dreamtime story for Eileen’s country and ceremonies by her people are performed to ensure its productivity as a food source and life form of the ancestors.