Dadda Samson
Born about 1939
Kartujarra language group, Milangka skin group
Jigalong Community
Martumili Artists
Before Dadda was born, her parents and brothers lived in the Country around Jilakurru (Well 17). In the late 1930s, as droving traffic intensified, her family relocated west to old Jigalong, the ration station established on the rabbit-proof fence. Dadda was born by the windmill there. She continues to live in Jigalong, and is today one of the pioneering painters at Martumili Artists.
Sunday Well
2008, by Dadda Samson
acrylic on canvas, 121×76 cm
Martumili Artists
National Museum of Australia
People used to stay here. When people see the whitefella they used to run away, up to the hills and rocks. They were afraid of the whitefellas. My mother and my brothers ran away, right up to Puntawarri because the whitefellas were shooting at the Martu people. They were sneaking in and the gun went off, and they all ran and just kept running and running until they got to Puntawarri.