Jeannie Holroyd
Pormpuraaw Art & Culture Centre“I am a Kugu and Thaayorre woman. The Jabiru and Jellyfish are my totems.
My traditional country includes Pormpuraaw and inland from North Holroyd River to its headwaters. My ancestors and songlines connect me to this place.
I speak four Indigenous languages plus English. I’ve always been a good dancer and weaver.
Now I am learning to paint and print my stories.
My work celebrates the totems and stories of my people. It is very important to me that our people maintain our language, culture, dance, stories and songs.”
Jeannie has worked at Pormpuraaw Art Centre since 2011. We all call her ‘Mum’ and she is responsible for supervising our workshop. Jeannie grew up on country, living the traditional Kugu way. She often says she wishes she could go back to living in a humpy and return to the old ways before European influence.
Jeannie has a distinctive painting and print making style and still practices traditional weaving.
