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Animated
Stories
from the Dreamtime |
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Wagalak
Sisters |
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The
Wagalak sisters once created
the landscape, then they lost
it all. |
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Wagalak Sisters are creation sisters.
They carry their power in dilly
bags made from woven string. When
they walk, they use the contents
of their dilly bags to create
the landscape. In their hands,
the landscape that is created
is beautiful and lush. The sisters
are the keepers and teachers of
the law, but this changes when
they are distracted by the voices
of nearby men. When the sisters
seek out the men, they forget
about their dilly bags. While
the sisters are distracted, the
men raid their dilly bags, stealing
their wisdom and power. Sometime
later, the elder sister washes
herself and her newborn baby in
the river. The scent of the mother
and baby attracts the dingo, Whatu,
which transforms into a rainbow
serpent and eats the Wagalaks
and their baby. |
| Where
This Story Comes From:
The story of the Wagalak (or Wagilag)
Sisters is told across Arnhem
Land, in Australia's Northern
Territory. The place where the
story is said to have taken place
remains a sacred site. No-one
at all is allowed to go there
- not men, women or children,
Indigenous or non-Indigenous.
Storyteller Vera Cameron lives
in the Wugularr Community in the
Katherine Region of Australia's
Northern Territory. She speaks
many languages including English,
Kriol and Rittharngu. (Source:
Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation)
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The
Be |
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Two
brothers set off to solve a
mystery and thereby make a new
friend. |
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one level, The Be is the simple
story of a prankster
whose corroboree (song and dance)
helps him become part of a new
family. On another level, The
Be reminds us that humans and
animals are connected and belong
to a place. And that songs and
dances help build and maintain
the necessary relationships between
humans, nature and country. |
| Where
This Story Comes From:
Jimmy Wesan received this story
from his father. It comes from
the riverside country around Bulman,
which is situated 200 kilometres
north of Wugularr (Beswick) in
the Northern Territory of Australia.
Because it comes from his country
(Dalabon country), Jimmy is responsible
for this story in the same way
that he is responsible for everything
in that country. Jimmy Wesan,
the teller of this story, is a
senior Jungayi, lawman and elder
of the Barunga-Wugularr region
and lives in the Wugularr Community
in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Jimmy is an important person in
Wugularr and throughout Arnhem
Land because he is a custodian
of many stories and ceremonies,
and because of his knowledge of
people and country in the region.
(Source: Djilpin Arts Aboriginal
Corporation) |
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Namorrodor |
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A
shooting star crosses the night
sky awakening Namorrodor. |
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| Namorrodor
is a shooting star. It
transforms into a terrifying spirit
creature that hunts for babies.
It is known to eat their hearts.
Two of this story's main messages
are that babies should not sleep
unprotected in the bush, and that
meat should not be cooked on the
fire at night. The smell of meat
cooking at night attracts Namorrodor,
as well as centipedes, scorpions,
ants and other biting insects.
The story is told to children
to encourage them to behave and
go to sleep. It is said that the
only person who can kill Namorrodor
is a medicine man (or witchdoctor)
who has as much strength as the
spirit creature. This man can
only kill Namorrodor at a certain
time of the night, and with a
spear which has been shaped over
a fire while certain words are
sung. It is also said that when
Namorrodor dies it makes a terrible
scream. |
| Where
This Story Comes From:
Namorrodor is an ancient story
that is told throughout the Arnhem
Land region. The Namorrodor story
is told by Pamela Weston. Pamela
lives in the Wugularr Community
in the Katherine Region of Australia's
Northern Territory. She was told
the story by her step-father.
Translator Glynn Wesan, who tells
the Namorrodor story in Mialli,
is from the Dhuwa moiety and her
skin name is Gamanjan. She also
lives in the Wugularr Community.
Glynn was told this story by her
father, her mother and her brother.
As a child, she was told the story
many times. (Source: Djilpin
Arts Aboriginal Corporation) |
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Morning
Star |
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The
camp has its first death. The
ceremony of birth, life and
death begins. |
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story depicts the first death
in the Dreamtime. It
is the beginning of Mardiyhin
- the life/death cycle - and shows
part of a traditional funeral
ceremony. The ceremonial information
presented includes preparation
of the deceased, use of the traditional
coffin (the lorrkon), body painting,
the corroborees which take place,
and various other ceremonial activities.
The rising morning star signifies
the cycle of life and the connection
between people, animals, plants
and the Universe. |
| Where
This Story Comes From:
This story is told in Rembarrnga
language in parts of Arnhem Land
in Australia's Northern Territory.
The Story of the Morning Star
is a very ancient one. The storyteller,
Victor Hood, says it comes 'from
the dust', which means it comes
from the Dreamtime. Victor is
a senior custodian and elder of
the Barunga-Wugularr region. His
father taught him this story and
many others. He is a Rembarrnga
man and has the responsibility
of knowing and passing on many
stories and ceremonies handed
on to him by other custodians.
Victor belongs to the Dhuwa moiety
and Gamarrang skin group and lives
in the Wugularr Community. (Source:
Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation) |
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Frog
Story |
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Frog
would rather play than hunt,
until his mates get tired of
his laziness. |
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| Frog
would rather relax in the waterhole
than work.
But the hunters are getting fed
up with Frog's laziness! Frog
Story explains why frogs around
waterholes and rocks have flat
bellies, but this story also warns
about the consequences of failing
to perform your duties. As a result
of Frog's choice to swim in the
water hole, rather than work with
the hunters, he is punished by
his community. A very different
reading of this story suggests
that Frog is someone who is not
fully suited to life as a human,
and is better off in the body
of a frog. By the end of the story,
Frog has found his most appropriate
form - whether he likes it or
not. There are many ways of understanding
this story. Your personal interpretation
may be different again. |
| Where
This Story Comes From:
The Frog story comes from the
Texas Downs region of East Kimberley,
Western Australia. It was told
to the storyteller, Sade Carrington,
by her uncle before she was old
enough to go to school. Sade comes
from the Warmun Community in the
Western Australian Kimberley Ranges
or Kimberleys. Warmun is also
known as Turkey Creek, and is
located 3,019 km from Perth and
858 km east of Broome. Warmun
is also close to the Purnululu
National Park and the famous Bungle
Bungle ranges. Sade is a well
known artist and has exhibited
her paintings. (Source: Sade
Carrington) |
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| ©
2005 ABC: These extraordinary and imaginative
animated tales are a production of the Australian
Broadcasting Corporation in association with
Deakin University. To find out more about this
series, its artists, and producers, check out
the Dust Echoes pages on the Australian Broadcasting
Company website. Click
here. |
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