Blog

Ngujay (Freshwater Turtle)

My Family (Peoples)

Diwan (Scrub Turkey) Many years ago, our ancestors lived in harmony with the rainforest and other parts of the land, they learnt different ways of hunting and gathering for food. The women would collect Diwan (Scrub Turkey) eggs. Each Diwan Read more…

Kadanji (Black Cockatoo) Kadanji (Black Cockatoo) is my mother’s mother’s totem from the Kuku Nyungkul clan. This totem is passed down generation after generation to your newborns.

Ngangkin (Echidna) Long time ago our ancestors used to hunt echidnas for their meat and fat. The fat was used as bush medicine. They rubbed it onto sore muscles to relieve pain.  The echidna also appears as part of a rock Read more…

Kadanji (Palm Cockatoo) Kadanji is the big name for Black Cockatoo and Palm Cockatoo. The Palm Cockatoo is my Totem. It forms part of the Kuku Yalanji cland lands. I inherited it from my great grandfather’s side.

Bindi Bambayal (Yam Leaf) This fabric shows my yam leaf design. Yams are bush tucker to all our families. We go out and dig for it when they are in season. When the leaves turn dark brown, we know that the tubers Read more…

Kurranji (Cassowary) The cassowary is my totem. My mother’s sister handed it down to me when I was a young boy. I perform the cassowary dance in public ceremonies. As a young men, I was part of the Yalanji Dance Read more…

Walkarr (Bush Goanna) Walkar (Bush Goanna) is found in eastern and western Yalanji land both in rainforest country and inland plains. Walkarr was an important food source to our Kuku Yalanji ancestors. Goannas are great tree climbers and sometimes hard Read more…