Atnwelarre (Pencil Yam) in My Country

Belinda paints Atnwelarre (pencil yam) in her country, Alhalkere in the Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs. The Atnwelarre is a trailing herb or creeper, sometimes covering large areas, with bright green leaves, yellow flowers and long skinny yams (swollen roots). These are an important food source which can be eaten raw or cooked in hot sand and ashes. Belinda paints the leaves, flowers and Kame (pencil yam seeds). The Atnwelarre and Kame stories are very important Dreamtime stories for Belinda’s country and ceremonies by her people are performed to ensure its productivity as a food source and life form of the ancestors. Belinda uses dot work in this painting to represent the Kame.