This painting depicts the Jukurrpa (Dreaming) of the ‘Janganpa’ (common brush-tailed possum [Trichosurus vulpecula]) and the ‘Jajirdi’ (native cat/western quoll [Dasyurus geoffroii]).
The Janganpa Jukurrpa describes a secret ceremony at Yakurdiyi being performed by the ‘Janganpa’ (possums). The ‘Jajirrdi’ (native cat/western quoll [Dasyurus geoffroii]) saw them but did not realize that the ceremony was on and walked in on it. As a result ‘Janganpa’ and ‘Jajirrdi’ began fighting. The men fought. When they finished fighting, the ‘Janganpa’ forced the ‘Jajirrdi’ to be part of the Young Men’s initiation ceremony that they were holding. The women were at another place as it was men’s business. While the ceremony was on, they danced all night till day break. Eventually, the ‘Jajirrdi’ went back to their homeland and the possums travelled on through their country.
Japaljarri/Jungarrayi men and Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women are the custodians of this Jukurrpa. In Warlpiri paintings depicting this Dreaming, ‘Janganpa’s’ footprints are depicted by the use of ’E’ shaped images and the tracks left by the ‘Janganpa’s’ tail are often shown as wavy lines.