March 2024 – Page 18

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Yok (Bandicoot)

The ancestral site for yok (bandicoot) is a hill called kordeme near Buluhkaduru outstation. It is a restricted place. People used to hunt yok regularly, however they are rarely seen anymore. Lena Yarinkura explains that in the past djungkay (cultural managers) would perform rituals at the site, calling out all different kured (country): Korlobidahdah, Mankorlod, Buluhkaduru, Ankadbarrbirri, Malyarngak, Ramingining, Ji-balbal, Ji-be – na. Baby yok would then spread throughout these areas. However, today there are fewer yok as djungkay have not been able to perform these rituals as often. Yok also has a powerful inside essence, mardayin, but this work is an ‘out – side’, public story.

By , 3 years ago

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Namumuyak

Namumuyak was a man who came from the sea and traveled inland. As he went he put children in their land and gave them their languages and their clan. He also put plants on the land and told bininj which ones they should eat and which ones they should not. So this man Namumuyak went on to Kardbam Clan country, there he put his own image and became a dreaming on the Kardbam country where he remains today.

By , 3 years ago

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Namumuyak

Namumuyak was a man who came from the sea and traveled inland. As he went he put children in their land and gave them their languages and their clan. He also put plants on the land and told bininj which ones they should eat and which ones they should not. So this man Namumuyak went on to Kardbam Clan country, there he put his own image and became a dreaming on the Kardbam country where he remains today.

By , 3 years ago

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Rrugurrgurda (Mud Crab)

This design tells the story of Elizabeth’s homeland – a dreaming place, a good dreaming place with plentiful mud crabs. Elizabeth’s homeland lies east of Maningrida, at the mouth of Blyth river. This country is known for a large spiritual mud crab, which lives in the area.

Many families go and collect crabs to eat there with long sticks, or collect directly from the shores. Mud crabs hide in the muddy bottoms of estuaries and mangrove forests in areas surrounding Maningrida. After a king tide, a large cyclical tide that bring the crabs out from the mangroves, it is a good time to find crabs.

Rrugurrgurda (mud crabs) is pronounced Ahh-rewg-gurd-gurda in the Burarra language. Rrugurrgurda are good baladji (bush food in Burarra) and can be caught all year round. They are put on the fire to cook and they are ready when they turn a bright orange colour.

By , 3 years ago

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Rainbow Serpent

By , 3 years ago