Page 2:
Nhä nhanŋu ŋunhi ḏilminyinguny walu?
Wanha ŋayiny miḏawarrnydja? Dhuwal bala marrtji ga.
Yow. Dhuwana limurruŋguwuynydja gam' ŋarra dhu lakaraman.
Ḏilminyin, yurr waluny nhanŋu dhiyakuny borumdhinyarawnydja borumguny ŋayi dhu miḏawarr gäḻaŋuy yan.
Page 4:
Dhuwandja limurruŋ borum Warramiriw bäpurruw, ḏilminyin, wäwuru, baḻkpaḻk wuŋapu
ga mulkmulk. Dhuwal mala ŋayi manymaktja.
Ga ŋayi waŋgany ŋatha baḻkpaḻktja gurinydhirra ŋayi dhu, bala retthirra ga bominyan ŋayi ŋuli molthirra ŋayi dhu.
Ga manymak dhuwal mala limurruŋ ŋathany ga borumdja, yurr dhuwal ŋunhi waŋganyŋur walal dhuwal borumdja mala.
Page 6:
Ga waŋganydja ŋayi ŋatha limurr dhu bathan dhaŋalkkum gurtha, yow. Ga waŋganydja ŋatha ŋayi ga gänaŋ'thuna dhiyakal ŋathawal ga borumgal.
Dhuwandja mala ŋatha manymaknha bawalamirra ŋanhany dhu dhuwananhany mala borumnha goŋdhu ŋayatham ga ḻuka bawalamirr birrka'mirra.
Ga dhuwandja waŋganydja ŋatha yaka dhu ŋayatham ḏikuny. Ga bathana yan dhu yaka nhanŋu dhu ga gumurr nhinany dhiyak ŋathawnydja.
Page 8:
Ŋunhi dhu dhaŋalkkumany gurthany, ga bathandja ganan yurr yarrkthurra, ga nhina yaka barrku.
Bay ŋayipi dhu ga nhära ŋawulul' dhika nhä marrtji ṉoluŋdhirr gänan, ga bay ŋayi dhu räwakthirr rerriwulthirr warrpam, ga bay ŋayi dhu bulŋuyukthirr.
Page 10:
Bala yolŋuny dhu marrtjin galkithirra, bala yaw'yuna munathany, bala dhulkuman ŋanhany ga bilin. Ga bay dhu munatha yal'yun warrpam.
Page 12:
Bala warrkthuna bala ḻukan guḻ'yuna marrtji. Balanya ŋayi rumbaldja nhakun gatjinat.
Ga waŋgany ŋarra moŋal, wiripuny ŋatjaŋaḏal. Dhuwandja ŋatjaŋaḏaldja yäku ŋatha nyumukuṉiny'. Ŋunha Yirriŋan ga ŋorra. Ga milwiṉiny dhuwal ŋatha, dhuwandja waṉa dharrwa. Nhanŋu dhiyakuny ŋatjaŋaḏalwuny, märi'mirriŋuny ŋayi dhuwal milwiṉinydja.
English Translation
What's the time for redberries?
Which direction is the wind coming from, East-South-East?
Yes, it's on its way. Ok, this is it, I'm going to tell you about redberries.
The time for redberries to ripen is Miḏawarr, around about the time the ESE wind blows.
The redberries, the roundberries, the treenuts, the blackberries and mulkmulk all belong to the people of the Warramiri clan. These fruits all taste good. The treenut becomes green, after that it becomes red and then it becomes black, and we call it bominya. These are all our fruits and our nuts and food.
And with the other one, the wild cashew, we don't touch the orange part. We make a fire and cook the nut. This food, the nut is different from the other fruits and nuts. These other foods and nuts are better, and good for us to eat anytime. But this one food or nut, we can't touch it when it is raw (i.e. uncooked). We have to sit close by and wait for it to be cooked.
When the fire is lit and while the nuts are being cooked, we have to move away from the fire and sit at a distance until the nuts are cooked, the smoke is gone, the fire has burned down and the nuts are all dried and cool.
Then we can move closer to the fire, dig a hole in the sand, put the nuts in then cover them with sand and wait till the sand has cooled down. Then we take the nuts out and eat them. The nuts look like cashew nuts.
And I forgot to mention the other root called ŋatjaŋaḏal. These roots are very small. They are found at Yirriŋa. Another name for this food is milwiṉi. It has lots of small off-shoots.
This milwiṉi is the grandmother of the ŋatjaŋaḏal.
Page 1:
"Ŋ, ŋ, ŋ," bitjan ŋuli ga waṉ'kurrany waŋa.
"Ŋ, ŋ, ŋ," that's what the bandicoot says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl ganguriw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating bush yams."
Page 2:
"Mu, mu, mu," bitjan ŋuli ga murryilnydja waŋa.
"Mu, mu, mu," that's what the Torres Strait pigeon says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl ŋathaw maŋutjiw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating seeds."
Page 3:
"Nyo-o-o," bitjan ŋuli ga wärraŋdja nyowyun.
"Nyo-o-o," that's what the dingo says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl djandaw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating goanna."
Page 4:
"Moo-o-o," bitjan ŋuli ga detuŋdja waŋa.
"Moo-o-o," that's what the buffalo says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl mulmuw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating grass."
Page 5:
"Ŋak, ŋak, ŋak," bitjan ŋuli ga gurrumaṯtjiny waŋa.
"Ŋak, ŋak, ŋak," that's what the magpie goose says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl räkaywu nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating water chestnuts."
Page 6:
"Gek, gek, gek," bitjan ŋuli ga muthaliny' waŋa.
"Gek, gek, gek," that's what the duck says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl wäkwakku maŋutjiw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating waterlily root."
Page 7:
"Wäk, wäk, wäk," bitjan ŋuli ga wäktja waŋa.
"Wäk, wäk, wäk," that's what the Torresian crow says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl bawalamirriw ŋathaw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating any food."
Page 8:
"Ḻatj, ḻatj, ḻatj," bitjan ŋuli ga ḻatjḻatjtja waŋa.
"Ḻatj, ḻatj, ḻatj," that's what the northern rosella says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl munydjutjku nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating wild green plums."
Page 9:
"Ŋäk, ŋäk, ŋäk," bitjan ŋuli ga wämuttja waŋa.
"Ŋäk, ŋäk, ŋäk," that's what the wedge-tailed eagle says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl nyumukuṉiny'ku ŋarirriw' mala nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating little fish."
Page 10:
"Wo, wo," bitjan ŋuli ga worr'wurrnydja waŋa.
"Wo, wo," that's what the owl says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl nyiknyikku nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating mice."
Page 11:
"Ḏam, ḏam, ḏam," bitjan ŋuli ga ratjuktja waŋa.
"Ḏam, ḏam, ḏam," that's what the barramundi says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl nyumukuṉiny'mirriw mala ŋarirriw' nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating little fish."
Page 12:
"Wer', wer', wer'," bitjan ŋuli ga marrŋuny' waŋa.
"Wer,' wer,' wer'," that's what the possum says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl ŋathuw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating cycad nuts."
Page 13:
"Ŋak, ŋak, ŋak," bitjan ŋuli ga ḏamalany waŋa.
"Ŋak, ŋak, ŋak," that's what the white-breasted sea eagle says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl ŋarirriw' nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating fish."
Page 14:
"Guriŋ, guriŋ," bitjan ŋuli ga warrnyuny' waŋa.
"Guriŋ, guriŋ," that's what the fruit bat says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl borumgu mala nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating fruit."
Page 15:
"Get, get, get," bitjan ŋuli ga getkittja waŋa.
"Get, get, get," that's what the tern says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl nyumukuṉiny'ku ŋarirriw' mala nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating little fish."
Page 16:
"Garrurr, garrurr," bitjan ŋuli ga bäruny waŋa.
"Garrurr, garrurr," that's what the crocodile says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl mirriyaw' mala nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating blue crabs."
Page 17:
"Wir', wir', wir'," bitjan ŋuli ga wopuluny waŋa.
"Wir', wir', wir'," that's what the black-shouldered kite says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl ḏetjku mala nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating grasshoppers."
Page 18
"Ŋerrk, ŋerrk, ŋerrk," bitjan ŋuli ga ŋerrktja waŋa.
"Ŋerrk, ŋerrk, ŋerrk," that's what the sulphur crested cockatoo says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl gäŋaw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating wild passionfruit."
Page 19:
"Guḏurrk, guḏurrk," bitjan ŋuli ga guḏurrkuny waŋa.
"Guḏurrk, guḏurrk," that's what the brolga says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl yaŋaraw' wäkwakku nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating waterlily stems."
Page 20:
"Bok, buk, buk," bitjan ŋuli ga garkmandja waŋa.
"Bok, buk, buk," that's what the green frog says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl wurruḻuḻ'wu nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating flies."
Page 21:
"Ḏup, ḏup, ḏup,'" bitjan ŋuli ga wurrpaṉ'tja waŋa.
"Ḏup, ḏup, ḏup," that's what the emu says.
"Ŋarrany yindi djäl dhalpiw nyaŋ'thunaraw."
"I like eating black berries."
Page 4:
Dhuwandja ḏirramu gan ḻarruŋal ŋathaw bili bäyŋun nhanŋu ŋathany wäŋaŋur.
Bala ŋayi marrtjinan ḏiltjilila ŋathawnha.
A man went looking for food because there was no food for him at home.
He went to the bush to look for food.
Page 5:
Ŋunhi ŋayi marrtjinany ḏiltjililnydja, bala ŋayi marrtjin bumarnha ḏiltjipuynha ŋathany.
Ga buluny ŋayi nhäŋal ŋatha dhakal mala gan gorru'-kurruŋal dharpaŋur.
He went to the bush, then went collecting bush food.
He saw a bunch of fruit that was hanging on a tree.
Page 6:
Bala ŋayi waŋanan ŋanyapinya ŋayi bitjarr,
"Ya ŋarraku ŋatha mala gorru'-kurrum ga, ḻuka ŋarra dhu ga... dhawar."
Then he talked to himself like this, "Oh, yes, this fruit that is hanging on the tree is all mine, I will eat them… and finish them all."
Page 7:
Bala ŋayi marrtjinan balayin dharpalila, ŋunhi ŋayi nhäŋal dhakal mala.
Then he walked to that tree. There he saw the bunch of them.
Page 8:
Ga djälthinany ŋayi mirithinan ŋurikiyi ŋathawnydja, ŋunhi ŋayi ŋal'yurrnydja dharpalilnydja.
And he really like the food, so he climbed up the tree.
Page 9:
Bala ŋayi gulkthurra ŋunhi ŋathany, yurr ŋayi nhäŋal bäpiny ŋayi gan nhäŋal ŋanya.
Then he cut off some of the food, but he saw a snake looking at him.
Page 10:
Bala ŋayi mirithinan barrarin. Ga yupthurrnydja ŋayi ŋunhi bondin yan.
Then he got really scared, so climbed down quickly.
Page 11:
Bala ŋayi waṉḏinan gan wäŋalilnha.
Then he ran home.
Page 12:
Yurr bäpiynydja ŋanya marrtjin nhäŋala yan waṉḏinyalilnydja.
But the snake only watched him run.
Page 13:
Ga bäyŋun ŋayi märranhany ŋunhi ŋathany.
And he didn't end up getting that food.
Page 2
Yothuy ŋäthin ŋäṉḏiny ga bäpany, rirrikthurr ŋayi buthuru ga rathalay.
A little boy cried out to his mother and father. His ears hurt, and he had a headache.
Page 4
Bala ŋayi ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuny marrtjin raŋilila manhdhapiḏiwnha.
His mother walked to the beach to collect manhdhapiḏi, a type of sea slug.
Page 6
Ŋayiny yothuny ga bäpa'mirriŋuny marrtjin ḻarruŋal baḏarrwu man'tjarrwu.
Meanwhile, the little boy and his father walked off in search of baḏarr, the paperbark tree, to collect its leaves.
Page 8
Yurr dhukarrdja maṉḏa märraŋal wäkwakmirrilil. Ga ŋayiny yothuydja nhäŋal man'tjarrnha bala waŋanan bitjarr, "Bäpa, nhä dhuwandja man'tjarr?".
The two of them took the path that passed by the wäkwakmirr, the billabong. The little boy saw some leaves and asked his father, "Dad, what are these leaves?".
Page 11
Ga ŋayi bäpa'mirriŋuydja lakaraŋal bitjarr, "Burukpili dhuwandja man'tjarr, ŋalparr'wu".
His father told him, "These are the leaves of burukpili, cheese-fruit, you can use them when you have a cough".
Page 12
Bala maṉḏa marrtjinan raŋilila ga ŋayiny yothuydja nhäŋal man'tjarrnha bala waŋanan bitjarr, "Bäpa, nhä dhuwandja man'tjarr?".
Then they walked to the raŋi, the beach. The little boy saw some leaves and asked his father, "Dad, what are these leaves?".
Page 15
Ga ŋayi bäpa'mirriŋuydja lakaraŋal bitjarr, "Malwan dhuwandja man'tjarr, mäpaṉgu".
His father told him, "These are the leaves of malwan, anative hibiscus, you can use them when you have a boil".
Page 16
Yarrupnha maṉḏa raŋi-ŋupara marrtjin, bala ŋayiny yothuydja nhäŋal man'tjarrnha ŋayi marrtjin raŋi-ŋupar ŋorran bala ŋayi yothuydja waŋanan bitjarr, "Bäpa, nhä dhuwandja man'tjarr?".
They then climbed down the sand dunes and walked along the beach. The little boy saw some leaves and asked his father, "Dad, what are these leaves?".
Page 19
Ga ŋayi bäpa'mirriŋuydja lakaraŋal bitjarr, "Rowu dhuwandja man'tjarr, djetjiw".
His father told him, "These are the leaves of rowu, the goat's foot creeper, you can use them when you have a scratch or a cut".
Page 20
Dhä-ŋur beŋuryiny maṉḏa nhäŋala djurryurr'nha gapu, waṉḏin gan. Bala yan maṉḏa dhunupan marrtjinany balayin dharpalil, ŋunhi wanha gan baḏarr dharpa dhärran.
Finally, they saw a rainwater stream. It led them straight to the bush where baḏarr, the paperbark trees, stood.
Page 22
Nhäŋal maṉḏa man'tjarrdja, bala ŋayiny bäpa'mirriŋuydja lakaraŋal yothuwal bitjarr gam', "Gäthu, dhuwana baḏarrdja dharpa ga man'tjarr".
They saw the leaves, and the father told the little boy, "Son, this is baḏarr, and these are its leaves".
Page 25
Bala maṉḏa marrtjin gulkthurra man'tjarrdja, bala yan roŋiyinan wäŋalila.
They picked the leaves and headed home.
Page 27
Gäman maṉḏa marrtjin baḏarrdja man'tjarr muḻkurryu wäŋalildja. Gurthany gan ŋawyurra ŋäṉḏi'mirriŋuy dhaŋalkkuŋal, ga gurthaŋurdja gan nhäran manhdhapiḏi.
They carried the leaves home on their heads. While they had been away, the little boy's mother had prepared gurtha, a fire. The manhdhapiḏi were already on the fire when they arrived home.
Page 29
Bäpa'mirriŋuydja ga yothuydja dhunupan yan gapun ḏiṯthurr rupa'lila, bala dhunupan yan buŋbuŋmaraŋala baḏarrdja man'tjarr gurthalila.
The little boy and his father scooped some water into a billy and put it straight onto the fire, to boil the baḏarr leaves they had collected.
Page 30
Dhawaṯmaraŋal maṉḏa gurthaŋurdja baḏarr rupa'mirr ga manhdhapiḏi, bala ŋulwitjkuŋala. Ga bäy ŋayi-i-i-i yal'yurr banikin baḏarrmirr, bala yothunhan maṉḏa ŋäṉḏiy ga bäpay lupmaraŋala ŋuruŋiyiny baḏarryu.
The manhdhapiḏi and baḏarr were taken off the fire and left to cool. The billy full of baḏarr medicine slowly cooled down, then the mother and father washed their little boy with it.
Page 33
Dhä-ŋur beŋuryiny ḻupmaranhaŋur yothuwal, maṉḏa ŋäṉḏiy ga bäpay rarryurr weka manhdhapiḏi buthurulila yothuwal.
After the little boy's mother and father had washed him, they dripped the liquid from the manhdhapiḏi into his ear.
Page 34
Bala ŋayi yothuny ḻayyurra, bala rälin ŋayi gan waṉḏi-waṉḏinany walŋathinan rerriŋurdja. Ga yakurrtja walalaŋ latjuny dhika bunan.
The little boy felt better, his earache and headache were starting to go away. The family all had a good rest that night.
Page 36
Ga wiripun walu djaḏaw'yurr, ŋayi yothuny gan buḻ'yurra bawalamirrikurra, bili walal warrpam'nha nhinanany gan ŋayaŋu-djulŋithinan.
The next morning, the little boy played excitedly, and the whole family felt happy again.
Mapuḏumun
Red Cement tree (Terminalia Carpentaria)
Muthir'
Sandpaper Fig Tree (Ficus Opposita)
Wuḏuku
Drift wood (Camptostemen Schultzi)
First published in 1984 as the chapters 'Human Classification – Bereavement Terms and Different Types of People', 'Artifacts - Shelters and Containers', 'Insects and Spiders' in Dhuwal Djambarrpuyŋu Dhäruk Mala Ga Mayali' printed and published by Yirrkala Community School LPC. Additional entries compiled into Medicine by Aliment from Dhuwal Djambarrpuyŋu Dhäruk Mala Ga Mayali' by Sherilyn Dhamarraṉdji, Emma Smolenaers, Andie Clements and Classroom Assistant Teachers.
Illustrations by Emma Smolenaers, Paul Biyarranydjarrwuy, Margaret Muṯuwili and Andie Clements.
Ŋathi gan ŋorran gäthur waluŋur.
Ga ŋama' marrtjin ŋaraliw'bala ŋathiwal, bala ŋayi bumar ŋarali',
bala marrtjin wäŋaŋur, bala räkaylil.
Ga ŋayi räkay bumar ŋamay',
bala ŋayi marrtjin räli wäŋalil, ŋathiw räkay marrtjin gäŋal.
Wäwa marrtjin bala wäŋalil. Ŋayi bathi ŋamaw' gäŋal.
Ŋama' marrtjin gäŋaw.
Ŋayi bumar gäŋa bathilil,
bala ŋayi gäŋal ŋathiw raŋilil.
Ŋurruŋuny nhuma balaŋ marrtji ga ŋunhi nhuma ŋuli retjany nhäŋu, bala nhuma ŋuli gärrin, bala marrtji nhäŋun djitamawnha man’tjarrwu. Ga balanya ŋayi djitamany man'tjarr gam', yindi ga ḻiḻpam.
First of all, you should go and see the bush. Then you go into the bush and start looking for the leaves of yam. The leaf of the yam is big and flat.
Yaw'yurrnydja nhuma ŋuli djitamany ga yan bili ga maḻŋ'maraŋ, nhuma ŋuli ŋatha djitama. Balanya ŋayi ŋathany rumbal. Buŋu nhuma ŋuli marrtji dhaŋaŋ, bala nhuma ŋuli wäŋan riwarran maḻŋ'maraŋ, bala nhuma ŋuli guṉḏirrnha nhanapul.
Dig for the yams until you can easily find the food. The yam looks like this, it’s round and short. Dig as many as you can, then you can find a place to cook. You should always collect termite mound and put it on top of the fire.
Beŋurnydja nhuma ŋuli marrtji guḻunlila ga raŋan gulkthurr ga ṉorrutj wapmaraŋ manapul balayi raŋanlil. Dhuwandja ṉorrutj ga mulmu raŋanŋur.
After that you have to go to the billabong to strip some paperbark and grass and collect them together. This stem and grass go together with the paperbark.
Marrtji nhuma ŋuli bala ṉorrutjtja guṉḏirrlila ŋapalil rarr'yurr, bala djitamany marrtji guṉḏirrlila rulwaŋdhurr. Beŋuryiny raŋanthun marrtji dhaḻ'maraŋ djitamany, bala gapuynha yurr'yurr ga bulu dhaḻ'maraŋ raŋanthu. Bala munathaynha dholkuŋ, bala nhinin gi ŋir'yunmirra.
You can place the leaves on the termite mound on top, then put the yams on as well. Next, pick up the paperbark and place it around the yams, pour a little bit of water and close it again with the paperbark. Then cover it up with some sand, and sit and breath after all that hard work.
Dhuwandja meṉḏuŋ, dhiyaŋ ŋuli djitamany ralkthun.
Nhini walal märr wiyin' bala nhuma ŋuli warrkthurra djitamany bala raŋanlila rarr'yurr.
This is a snail; with this snail we scrape the yam and it looks like hot chips. Sit and wait a lot longer, then collect the yams and place them onto the paper bark.
Bala marrtji ŋäṉarrmaraŋun djitamany bala nhuma ŋuli ralkthurra marrtji ŋunhi djitamany.
Ralkthunaŋurnydja dhurrwaraŋur nhuma ŋuli gärruŋlila galkurr marrtji djitamany mala, bala riyalalila nhuma ŋuli gäŋu bala ḻupmaraŋun.
Next, peel off the skin from the yams, then you may scrape all the yams using the snail. After scraping the yams put them inside a mesh bag. Carry it straight to the stream and soak it.
Bala nhuma ŋuli ganarrthula waŋgany munha balayi gapulil, märr ŋayi ŋuli gapuynydja ŋunhi djitamany marin djalkthun. Ŋorri nhuma ŋuli djaḏaw'. Bala nhuma ŋuli marrtjin balayin riyalalila bala dhawaṯmaraŋun ŋunhi djitamany. Munha waŋganymirr ŋayi dhuwal ŋathany.
Leave it there for one night in the water, so that the water can get rid of the poison from the yams. You can sleep and go back at dawn. Then you may go back to the stream and collect the yams. This food is only for one night.
Dhäkaynydja ŋayi dhuwal djitamany manymak, ga rerrimiriw ŋayi dhuwal ŋathany. Baman'tja dhiyaŋ ŋathay ŋaḻapaḻmirrnydja walal limurruŋ gan nhina.
The taste of this yam is really good, and in this food, there is no sickness. A long time ago our old people were living with this food.
Dharpay Mala
Dharpany dhuwal walŋa, ga dharpaynydja ŋuli gurrupan limurruŋ dhäwu ga mayali' ŋunhi limurr ŋuli dhäkay-ŋäma limurruŋgal ŋayaŋu. Nhäkurr ga wanha witjan limurr dhu dhukarrkurr marrtji ga märram ŋatha manymakmirr wäŋa, gapuŋur ga diltjiŋur.
Dharpa dhuwal Dhuwa ga Yirrtja dhäwumirr. Ŋorrany ŋayi ga dharpaŋurnydja mala riŋgitj, manikay, bäpurru ga buŋgul. Wiripuny mala dharpa munhawuynha bäpurru.
Dhuwa ga Yirritja dharpa mala wiripuny wurrki'mirr, borummirr ga ŋathamirr. Man'tjarr ŋuli bäki mirritjin rumbalwu ga dharpa rumbalnydja ŋuli bäki näku djämaw.
Gurrkurr guninyin ŋuli bäki miny'tjiw, djäma ŋuli gunga miny'tjimirriyam.
Trees
Trees are alive and give us stories and feelings. When the tide is out it is time to make fish traps from the trees that have been prepared.
Trees are Yirritja and Dhuwa and tell many different stories. They have ceremonial connections to the land with songs and songlines but some have been forgotten
Trees and everything they represent are very important to Yolŋu. Associated with one tree are many names and meanings. This is the same for flowers which also signal to Yolŋu directions of the wind.
Trees can be used for their resources such as leaves, bark to make string for bags and canoes. The flowers on trees show the season and what sea and land food is ripe and ready to collect. Leaves on trees can also be used for medicine and flowers show the direction of the wind.
Trees connect Yolŋu to the land.
First published in 1984 as the chapter 'Trees and Shrubs' in Dhuwal Djambarrpuyŋu Dhäruk Mala Ga Mayali' printed and published by Yirrkala Community School LPC.
Reprinted in 2021.
Illustrations by Bäru Class 2020 students alongside Margaret Dhorrpuy and Andie Clements for the 2021 Shepherdson College Calendar.
Gawatjark
gawatjarktja - Borum ŋuli ŋuthan bawalamirrikurr ga miny'tjiny nhanŋu miku'. Ga borumdja ŋayi dhuwal mirithirr nyumukuṉiny' balanya nhakun munydjutj.
Gawatjark is bush fruit it grows anywhere. The colour of the fruit is red, it's a small fruit it's like a green plum. The scientific name for this fruit is Drypetes Lasiogyna.
Gumbu
gumbuny - Dhuwal borum yurr nyumukuṉiny' ga ŋuthandja ŋuli marrtji dhirrimuk. Ga dharpany nhanŋu ŋuli ŋuthan dhirrimuk ga wiripuny gaḏawaḏa. Malŋ'maraŋuny limurr ŋuli borum gumbuny baralakurr ga gumurr-retja. Ga dhäkaynydja nhanŋu mirithirr latju dhika.
Gumbu are small little white fruits it grows along the open flood plains and rain forests. It tastes good. The scientific name for this fruit is Securinoga Virosa.
Munydjutj
munydjutj - Ŋuli marrtji borumdhirr rarranhdharryu, yurr ḻuku-nhäranhamirriy. Ŋunhi ŋuli nhuma nyaŋ'thurr ḏikuny munydjutj, nhuma ŋuli mathany baṉḏanydhin. Ḻukiny nhuma ŋuli borum yan. Munydjutjŋur dharpaŋur ŋayi ŋuli ga ŋuthandja, yurr garrwar.
Munydjutj ripens at rarranhdharr when the ground is hot to walk on. If you eat the fruit when it's still not ripe, your tongue gets dry, the fruit grows high in the branches. The scientific name for this fruit is Buchanania Obvata.
Dhaŋgi
dhaŋginy - Dhuwal dhuḏi-wiyin' borum. Ga ŋapany nhanŋu mulkuminy ga ŋathany nhanŋu djinagany buthalak. Dhäkaynydja nhanŋu manymak ga wiripuny yaka.
Dhaŋgi is a fruit and it is green, but inside the fruit is yellow. We can eat the fruit and sometimes we don't. The scientific name for this fruit is Planchonia Careya.
Genydja
genydjany - Borum nhuma ŋuli maḻŋ'maraŋ baralakurr yurr galki retjaŋur. Dharapany nhanŋu mirithirr yindi ga borumdja nhanŋu balanya nhakun munydjutj, yurr märr yindin. Ga ḻukiny nhuma ŋuli maŋutji manapul, bili ŋunhi maŋutji genydjany mirithirr buḻŋu' ga nyumukuṉiny'.
Genydja is a fruit you find along the sand dunes and the rain forests. The tree is very big and the fruit is the size of a king marble, you eat the fruit and the seeds, it tastes good. The scientific name for this fruit is Ficus Virens.
Rripipi
rripipiny - Borum dhuwal nyaŋ'thunamirr yurr yaka nhanŋu dhäkaynydja manymak, ŋany gäŋga. Ŋuthandja ŋayi marrtji ŋuli bawalamirrikurr.
Rripipi this fruit is good to eat and it grows everywhere. The scientific name for this fruit is Ficus Platypoda.
Djäpa
djäpany - Dharpany mirithirr yindi, ga ŋuthandja ŋuli ga djinaga retjaŋur yan. Ga borumdja nhanŋu mirithirr nyumukuṉiny' nhakun gumbu. Dhäkaynydja nhanŋu latju mirrithirr. Ga miny'tjiny nhanŋu mol.
Djäpa grows in the bush, the fruit itself is small. It tastes sweet and the colour of this fruit is black.
Ṉarraṉi'
ṉarraṉiṉy' - Borum dhuwal miku' miny'tji ga gorrumany ŋuli ga garrwar dharpaŋur yäkuŋur ṉarraṉi'ŋur. Ga dhakalnydja nhanŋu nhakun wapuḻ, ga dhäkaynydja nhanŋu rapiny ga wiripuny ḏamurruŋ. Ŋuthandja ŋuli marrtji gumurr-retja, djinaga retjakurr ga wiripuny bam'palakurr.
Ṉarraṉi' grows in the rain forest and along the sad dunes or open plains, the fruit is red and it's size is like a tennis ball or sometimes much bigger. It tastes sweet and sometimes sour. The scientific name for this fruit is Suborbicularis or Eugenia Suborbicularis.
