Marlene Young Nungurrayi is a Pintupi woman born in 1971 at Papunya. During her childhood the family moved across many of the communities of the Central and Western Desert. They moved from Papunya to Warburton, Patjarr, Wiluna, Leonora and Docker River in Western Australia before moving back to Kintore. Marlene’s father was Tommy Lowry Tjapaltjarri (1940-1987) whose traditional country was Patjarr, and who was one of the original Papunya Tula shareholders group. Tommy Lowry was the older brother of Doctor George Tjapaltjarri, who became the adopted father for Marlene Young Nungurrayi when her father died.

Marlene’s mother is Janie Ward Nakamarra (b.1946) from Kulkutja on the Northern Territory side near Tjukurla. Marlene Young Nungur...