Bamanga Bubu Ngadimunku Aboriginal Corporation

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Kirbaji (Dugong) and Ngawiya (Sea Turtle)

Kirbaji (Dugong) and Ngawiya (Sea Turtle) are two ancestral spirit beings (Totems) that I inherited from my mother’s side. As a young boy my uncles and cousins took me out to sea teaching me how to hunt, cut and cook dugong and sea turtle. Only men were allowed to hunt them for very special occasions when lots of extended family members had to be fed during wedding, birth and funeral celebrations.  They wrapped the meat in ginger leaves to get flavours and enclose them using a vine before cooking the meat it in a ground oven. Parts of the meat, fat and blood can also be boiled in the turtle shell to make a nourishing soup. The fat of the turtle was also melted to make a body oil.

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Warru Warru Murruku (Men’s Business)

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Kirbaji (Dugong)

Kirbaji (Dugong) is an Ancestral Spirit Being (Totem) that I inherited it from my mother’s side.  It is my Totem. The dugong was also an important food source for my ancestors. Only men were allowed to hunt them, and only men had the right to cook and distribute the meat to all the families. My uncles and cousins showed me how to hunt dugongs and they passed down to me the cultural knowledge about them.

My ancestors used to wrap the dugong meat in ginger leaves for flavour, close the wraps with a vine and cook them in the ground oven. Dugongs were only hunted on special occasions such as births, weddings and funerals to provide food for large family gatherings.Dugong fat was also melted to make oil which was used as a medicine for skin and hair ailments or as ointment to treat an upset stomach.

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Warru Warru Murruku (Men’s Business)

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Warru Warru Murruku (Men’s Business)

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Diwan (Scrub Turkey)

Many years ago, our ancestors lived in harmony with the rainforest and other parts of the land, they knew many different ways of hunting and gathering for food. Diwan (Scrub Turkey) was an important food source for us. The women used to collect the eggs in a special way. They danced around the big nests while other women dived into the big nest with their arms. The eggs are found very deep down, in the warmest area of the nest. Diwan (Scrub turkey) is deeply connected with the Kuku Yalanji clans. It is an important Totem that is still sung and danced in public ceremonies today.

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Ngangkin (Echidna)

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Kadanji (Palm Cockatoo)

Kadanji (Palm Cockatoo) is my family Totem. It is very important to me because it holds all the stories relating to the traditional land that was passed down to me and my siblings through my fathers side, grandfathers and great grandfathers side.

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Birmba (White Cockatoo)

Birmba (White Cockatoo) is my family totem. It has been passed down from generation to generation. They always remind me of my grandfather, my sister and other family members who have passed on. White Cockatoos are like protective spirits for me and my family. They will give you signs. Good signs and signs of danger. They will let you know when to move on.
When I’m out with my grandchildren and there is a white cockatoo, I might say, “that is your grandmother, my sister who is watching us”.

At other times, the spirits of other family members visit us in form of white cockatoos. The White Cockatoo keeps our living and past family connected to each other and to our country. When I’m alone, I know they are around. I speak to their spirit and they give me strength.

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Birmba (White Cockatoo)

Birmba (White Cockatoo) is my family totem. It has been passed down from generation to generation. They always remind me of my grandfather, my sister and other family members who have passed on. White Cockatoos are like protective spirits for me and my family. They will give you signs. Good signs and signs of danger. They will let you know when to move on.
When I’m out with my grandchildren and there is a white cockatoo, I might say, “that is your grandmother, my sister who is watching us”.

At other times, the spirits of other family members visit us in form of white cockatoos. The White Cockatoo keeps our living and past family connected to each other and to our country. When I’m alone, I know they are around. I speak to their spirit and they give me strength.