April 2025

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Langgi Battle

After the flood of Dumbi, Namarali left Ngarinyin country to go to Woddorddaa country. He stole a woman from there and though she was the wrong skin for him, he made her his first wife. The other Wandjinas all gathered together and followed Namarali to the coast (Woddorddaa country). They found him at a place called Langi its European name is Freshwater Cove. They had a huge fight and they killed Namarali and his wife there. Before he died he told them to take him into a cave on the nearby hill and that is where he put himself up on the cave wall. Even today if you go there when the tide goes out, you will see a lot of rocks on the beach that represent all the Wandjinas that went for the fight and in the middle you will see two very large rocks which represent Namarali and his wife (Jarlarloyni).

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Wandjina & Wullamurrange (cloud and rain spirit & longneck turtle)

The Wullamurrungge was created by the Wandjina. It’s special because the Wandjina left a gift inside of the Wullamurra in the form of a skeleton that looks like the Wandjina and the Gyorn Gyorn. The law goes that before you can take and eat the turtle it has to crawl on the back of the person who’s going to eat it. This then satisfies the Wandjina and you’re able to eat it. This law is passed down from generation to generation.

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Wandjina (cloud and rain spirits)

The Wandjina spirits are highly respected by the Worrora, Ngarinyin and Wunumbul people who live at Mowanjum and along the Gibb River Road to Kalumburru in the North West Kimberley region of Western Australia. Wandjina represents the laws of everything the surrounds us trees, rivers, rocks, bush fruit and animals, all creation. The Wandjinas give the law on how we have to treat and use these creations. These customs are carried on today.

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Wandjina’s & Gyorn Gyorn

These land Wandjina are waking up and looking out. That’s how they get together: they have a meeting, get together, set the rules and law down. Wurdoo, it is bringing us out to carry it on. It’s their law we are doing that today with our children. In the story, they’re coming out, I always see them when I come out to this country, I feel it. They are very strong, they speak to me in their way. They are very spiritual Wandjinas. What I’m painting is what I’m feeling inside, it’s strong. They’re from Freshwater Cove, coming up from Cone Bay: my granny’s and grandfather’s country. I felt them when I went to Freshwater Cove. They are real to me. They learn all the law. Today we are teaching the children, they grow up and keep the same law. When you’re in town, out of respect you can’t go into another person’s home. In that same way we’ve got to respect the law. The Wandjina created the earth and all life upon it, then he created the first human beings: the Gyorn Gyorn people. He then told them to work the land and do well. The Gyorn Gyorns were confused and didn’t understand what the Wandjina wanted from them. The Wandjina was annoyed couldn’t control the Gyorn Gyorn so he travelled back to Wallungunda (Milky Way) to where Idjair was and asked if he could help with the creation. More Wandjinas came back and helped him in all areas of creation. The Gyorn Gyorns became hunters and gathers. They also show the traditional dancing amongst our tribes.

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Jaadgullmaaddaa

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Waanungga (sugar bag)

Waanugga is a word that describes various forms of bush honey. The hives in which honey is stored are called ‘Sugarbag’, and can be found in trees and in termite mounds. The Wandjinas keep the countryside fresh and healthy which allows the native bees to produce high quality honey.

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Idjaa and the first Wandjinas of the Milky way

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Wandjina & Jaiya (cloud and rain spirits & fish)

The Wandjina is the creator spirit that belongs the Wororra, Ngarinyin and Wunumbul people. He is the one that created everything and gave us our culture, law and songs. He even gave us the dreaming/ totem of each child before they are born. Wandjina is the creator of all food on the land and in the sea. He’s the one who gave us Jaiya.

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Gyorn Gyorn (Bradshaws)

The Wandjina created the earth and all life upon it, then he created the first human beings: the Gyorn Gyorn people. He then told them to work the land and do well. The Gyorn Gyorns were confused and didn’t understand what the Wandjina wanted from them. The Wandjina was annoyed couldn’t control the Gyorn Gyorn so he travelled back to Wallungunda (Milky Way) to where Idjair was and asked if he could help with the creation. More Wandjinas came back and helped him in all areas of creation. The Gyorn Gyorns became hunters and gathers. They also show the traditional dancing amongst our tribes.

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Wandjina Dreaming

The Wandjina spirit of the Wororra, Ngarinyin and Wunumbul tribe is highly respected by the people of Mowanjum. The Wandjinas brought the law, culture and language. The people of Mowanjum believe that the first Wandjina was called Idjair. He created the first human beings, the Gyorn Gyorn people. Wallungunder (Milky Way) travelled back to Idjair (the first Wandjina) to bring back more Wandjinas to give the Gyorn Gyorn (Bradshaw) people laws to live by. Wallungunder also created Ungud spirits which often appear in Mowanjum people. Every person at Mowanjum has an Ungud or Totem. It’s given before birth by the father or the grandfather through dreams, and represents a living animal. The three Wandjinas which represent the three language groups of Mowanjum are Namarali for the Worora people, Wodjin or Wanalirri for the Ngarinyin people, and Rimijmarra for the Wunumbul people. Each family group at Mowanjum has a Wandjina which guides them through their lives. The Wandjinas are most active as cloud spirits during the monsoon period, bringing rain to the entire Kimberley region. The Wandjinas facial characteristics can represent many climatic features. The eyes of the Wandjina can represent thunderstorms and even cyclones. The bigger and darker the eyes, the more powerful the Wandjina is said to be. The haloes and lines around the face represent different cloud formations and lightning. The line between the eyes resembles a nose, but it is actually a power line which is used to transfer energy. Small brush marks on the Wandjinas body usually represent rain drops. Wandjinas can be represented with either four or five fingers. When depicted with only head and shoulders the Wandjina is said to be floating in space or in the form of a cloud or storm. A full-bodied Wandjina is said to be walking the Earth. The rounded feature in the upper chest area can represent the heart of the Wandjina or a large pearl shell that was worn by tribal leaders.