Bamanga Bubu Ngadimunku Aboriginal Corporation

(LS): Yindili (Kingfisher)

Bush Tucker and Dillybag

Ngunyin (Dillybag) Design Dillybags played a vital part in Kuku Yalanji culture. Women used them to carry food when out hunting and gathering or soak bitter yams in creeks before cooking them. Dillybags were also used to hold personal and sacred items.

(VC) Basket Weaving This design shows how the bottom part of a black palm basket is woven. My grandmothers and aunties used to make them. They cut off the young palm leaves in the centre, stripped and scrapped them. Then they would put the strips in freshwater to make them Read more…

(VC) Basket Weaving This design shows how the bottom part of a black palm basket is woven. My grandmothers and aunties used to make them. They cut off the young palm leaves in the centre, stripped and scrapped them. Then they would put the strips in freshwater to make them Read more…

(VC): Fish Trap 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 also had Read more…

(VC): Mossman River Design The Mossman River is very important to me and my family. Laurence, my partner and the father of our 5 children, is one of the Traditional Owners of this area. We both grew up along the river and Laurence’s grandparents used to live in a hut Read more…

(LG): 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 group and was invited to Hong Kong to perform our 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…

(VC): Fish Trap 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 also had Read more…