Hunting Camping with the Honey Ants by Samantha Lord

This painting reflects a profound connection to my upbringing in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia, a place where my family settled in the 1980s. My paternal Indigenous heritage is interwoven with this land, and my father dedicated over 20 years to building and maintaining communities around Alice Springs with Tangentjerer.

The painting presents two aerial views: above and below. The top view showcases the arid landscape with honey ants, known for their medicinal properties akin to Manuka honey and their role as a vital sweet treat in the desert. These ants symbolize survival and the wisdom passed down through generations. Below, the focus shifts to a scene of family and tradition.

In the lower section, you see a family camping with a fire in the center. To the right, two women with coolamons—traditional wooden bowls—are depicted digging for honey ants and bush tomatoes. Coolamons, part of a tree wrap, were essential for carrying food, water, and even babies.

The painting also illustrates the experience of bush food hunting. On the left, an emu walks through the landscape. Nearby, a mini Moke vehicle signifies our adventurous hunts for kangaroo. My father, uncle, and cousins would camp several times a year, teaching us essential survival skills: finding bush food, traditions, and sources of water.

The bottom of the painting highlights a traditional stew made from wild donkey hind leg, with its distinct, earthy ingredients. The landscape, dotted with honey ant burrows and the intricate details of bush life, tells the story of a rich, communal, and resilient lifestyle deeply rooted in the desert's harsh yet beautiful environment.