Enoch Nayilibidj

Being a traditional Bininj artist Enoch has spent many years painting at Injalak Arts and Crafts in Gunbalanya/Oenpelli and he also enjoys coming to Jabiru and painting in his unique style telling stories of creation, depicting bush tucker/animals and sometimes dreamtime stories “Djang” 

Bininj refer to ‘Djang’ or sacred places that are off limits for visitors and even Bininj people need permission to be there. There is a particular creation story about Enoch’s country where his clan group tell a creation story and only specific senior men (including Enoch) can paint this image. 

Nadumangah is an area and it is said that from the air you can see where the ‘serpent’ has carved the land and a crystal clear creek/river is glistening and winding through the ragged country. There are many areas that are forbidden for anyone to go and this is one area that is said to have the power to claim lives. 

Many years ago in the creation time a family went hunting on country and found themselves along the banks of this sacred area. The father was busy watching and concentrating on the animals there: a black quoll ‘djaborr’ which has incredible hunting skills including the power  of smelling anything from a distance.

Enoch Nayilibidj