Kelly Barclay “Dundee” original acrylic on Freshwater Turtle Shell 24cm x 18cm

Description

Artwork Title: Dundee

This small shell was found out bush near Doomadgee. During an extended dry season, the small turtles might perish if their swamp dries up.

The design shows somebody preparing the Dundee, a hole is dug in the ground, size depends on what you’re cooking. The rocks have just been heated after being placed in the fire, all the wood is burnt down and the hot coals keep the rocks nice and hot.

The Waanyi, Gangalidda and Garrawa people eat this turtle as it is a traditional bush tucker for us. However, it’s easy to tell this animal perished naturally or large birds may have fed on it, as it still has the front (belly-side) shell. When we prepare the Freshwater Turtle for cooking, we warm the belly shell and remove it to remove the intestines and clean the gall bladder. We cook the turtles in their shells after cleaning and cover the earth oven with Tee tree bark, blocking any wholes with smoke escaping with dirt or sand. For small animals like turtles we might leave in the ground for maybe 40 mins to an hour (there would be more than one). The bigger the animal the longer it stays cooking. If it’s big enough, it could stay in the ground overnight.
By Kelly Barclay

Artist:             Kelly Barclay

Born:               1980

Origin:             Doomadgee, QLD

Tribal Group:  Waanyi