Turtle (Jarrikarlani)

Jarrikarlani (turtle) are significant to the Tiwi people both as bush yingiti (food) and also feature as one of the many animal totems that a person can inherit at birth from members of their family. This totem is then forever held by that person, they identify with it and other members of the community that have the same totem and they also perfom the yoyi (dance) associated with the totem at ceremonies.