Bamanga Bubu Ngadimunku Aboriginal Corporation

Ngawiya (Sea Turtle)

Kurranji (Cassowary) Long time ago, the cassowary was a precious food source for our ancestors. They ate the meat and the eggs, used the feathers for ceremonies and weaving, and the skins for blankets.  The Cassowary is a powerful Totem for us because it helps growing many plants that were important 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 to catch.Walkarr was hunted with spears and brought back to Read more…

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 Read more…

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 form the dugong fat. Read more…

Yinjul (Rainforest Parrot)

Status: Stock Vanessa Cannon, Makarr (Fish Trap) Fish traps are called Makarr in our language. They were made by men only. Our fathers and uncles used to make them with the lawyer vine. They striped the stems and then soaked them in the river to keep them soft and bendy. They Read more…

Status: Stock Laurence Gibson, 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 Read more…

Status: Stock Karen Shuan, Kurranji (Cassowary) The cassowary is one of the major totems (Ancestral Spirit Beings) for our Kuku Yalanji people. He is a big, dangerous bird that rules the rainforest. The cassowary can attack people but at the same time he helps growing many of the plants we Read more…

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…