Ngawiya (Sea Turtle) In the past, sea turtles were an important food source for Kuku Yalanji people. Only men were allowed to hunt them. The men were also responsible for cooking them in a ground oven and distributing the meat to all the families. We ate turtle meat on special occasions such as the Read more…
Kadanji (Black Cockatoo) The black cockatoo is my totem. It has been passed down to me from my grandmother and her sisters, to my mum and her sisters and then it came to me and my sisters. I use the black cockatoo often in my art not only because it Read more…
Kadanji (Black Cockatoo) The black cockatoo is my totem. It has been passed down to me from my grandmother and her sisters, to my mum and her sisters and then it came to me and my sisters. I use the black cockatoo often in my art not only because it Read more…
Diwan (Scrub Turkey) The Diwan (Scrub Turkey) walks the rainforest floor looking for food.
Bilngkumu (Saltwater Crocodile) The Salt water crocodile is a very important animal for us. We call it Bilgkamu in our Kuku Yalanji language. Our ancestors – only the men – used to hunt the saltwater crocodile for food. My father told me that the hunters were given specific roles and Read more…
Diwan (Scrub Turkey) Diwan are bush food – an important source of meat. We also eat the eggs. They are a delicacy. The male bird looks after the nest and will not go far, as he has to protect the nest from bush goanna’s. If they come around, he will Read more…
Status: Stock Sarong – Kurriyala (Carpet Snake) The carpet snake is an important animal for us. We call it Kurriyala in our Kuku Yalanji language. Our ancestors wrapped the meat in native ginger leaves and cooked it on the hot coals of the ground oven. They also used the skin Read more…
Status: Stock Sarong – Kurranji (Cassowary) Kurranji (Cassowary) is an important totem of the Kuku-Yalanji people. We still dance it in public ceremonies. The cassowary is a protected species within the tribal lands of the Kuku-Yalanji people. They live in the rainforest environment of this area, and camouflage themselves in the Read more…
Status: Stock Sarong – Kirbaji (Dugong) In the past, Kirbaji (dugong) was an important food source. It was men’s business to hunt dugongs and it was their responsibility to cook and provide the meat to all the families. The meat of the dugong was cooked in an earth oven. Our ancestors also made oil Read more…
Jarruka (Scrubfowl) The scrubfowl is a culturally significant Totem to our people. We still dance it in public ceremonies. The scrubfowl dance starts off with two male dancers as scrubfowl characters guarding the nest and eggs. Then the women dancers come in. They are on the lookout for scrubfowl nests Read more…