Despite having no formal training as a linguist, Valerie translated 'Stormboy' into Warlpiri and gathered most of the material for the 'Stories from Lajamanu' publication. The stories depicted in her paintings include Women Dreaming, Ngalyipi and Warna.
Born in Lajamanu in c. 1955. Language/tribe Warlpiri. Lives at Lajamanu. Country Janyinki. Dreamings Mardukuja-mardukuja (karna) – Women Dreaming, Ngalyipi, Warna. Valerie gathered most of the material for the Stories from Lajamanu publication. Though she did not go to school until she was 12 and has no formal training as a linguist, she recently translated Stormboy into Warlpiri so the teachers could have a novel for the children to study in Warlpiri – one of the longest vernacular English novel translations ever.