Janine Mandijalu & Pauline Sampi

When my dad was a little boy, they brought everyone into La Grange Mission at Bidyadanga. My dad and his family walked 30kms from Mandora Station to Wallal station, where a truck picked them up and took them to Bidyadanga.

I was the oldest of eight kids. I grew up in Bidgy with five tribes - all as one people. With mum’s side I grew up going out camping on the islands, fishing on the reef with mum’s mum. Same with the desert - I was taught to live and survive there, from all my old people, my Yulparija extended family. Pretty good childhood!

I’m a mum of eight kids - four boys, four girls- and a grandmother too. Pauline is my mum’s first cousin. So she’s another mother of mine. My mum’s got 28 grandchildren. We come from a big, tightknit family. We all look after each other.

I’ve been doing artwork for years - I've done a few paintings here and there. Never really had an exhibition or anything. Just gifts for family.

I’m one of the community directors here in Ardyaloon, on the Board. I’m also a director for Mayala group - the country on my mum’s side - we won our Native Title back in 2018 (over parts of the Buccaneer Archipelago). We always try and go back to country with our kids as much as we can - we go over on the boat. There’s big mob country to see over there (300 islands over 3,800 square km).

Bardi county is the land side (including Ardyaloon), Jawi is the water side - the islands closest to One Arm, up to Sunday Island area. Then you cross over the Sunday Straight that’s all Mayala country.