Fitzroy-Valley-Indigenous-seasonal-calendars-on-Many-Lands-Many-Seasons

ManyLandsManySeasons_S2022_E002_Fitzroy Valley_Facebook

 

 

[Music plays and images move through to show the sun shining over a river, clouds moving overhead, rain hitting the ground, trees waving in the wind, and autumn leaves on trees]

 

[Images move through to show a view looking down a river, flowers waving in the wind, and a fire burning in scrub]

 

Rulla Kelly-Mansell: You may have heard of spring, summer, autumn and winter, but did you know Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have their own names and times for their seasons?

 

[Images move through of a close view of the fire, a blue slightly cloudy sky, and a view looking down on a river]

 

Our knowledge is unique to each community and their environment and has been passed down

through generation to generation for over 65,000 years.

 

[Image changes to show a screen red-brown at the bottom and blue at the top, and a circle appears in the centre with text: Many Lands, Many Seasons, Fitzroy River]

 

Welcome to Many Lands, Many Seasons.

 

[Images move through of a view looking over a flooded valley, the Fitzroy River, an aerial view looking down on the river, a view of Fitzroy Crossing township, and a map showing Fitzroy Crossing]

 

This is the mighty Martuwarra Fitzroy River which winds through the town of Fitzroy Crossing,

400 kilometers inland from Broome, Western Australia.

 

[Image changes to show four children standing behind the “Fitzroy Valley District High School” sign and talking to the camera]

 

Children: Welcome to the Fitzroy Valley District High School!

 

[Music plays and images move through of children running towards a bus, and then entering the bus, and then the bus moving along a road away from the camera]

 

[Images move through to show children laughing inside the bus, the bus turning into a road, and then an aerial view looking down on a scrubby, flat landscape]

 

Rulla Kelly-Mansell: The Fitzroy Valley District High School is on Bunuba Country and just across the river is Gooniyandi Country.

 

[Images move through of children climbing off the bus, children getting into a flat bottomed boat, and then Marmingee Hand can be seen in the boat with the children waving to the camera]

 

[Image changes to show Marmingee talking to the camera, and text appears: Marmingee Hand, Walmajarri Language Teacher]

 

Marmingee Hand: Hello, my name is Marmingee Hand.

 

[Image changes to show children in the boat pointing down the river, and then the image changes to show the boat on the river]

 

I'm a Walmajarri language teacher at Fitzroy Valley District High School, but I actually coordinate the whole language program which our school have running.

 

[Images move through to show a male in the boat pointing to something, an aerial view looking down on the river, and then Marmingee talking to the camera, and text appears: Walmajarri, Bunuba, Gooniyandi]

 

And there are three languages, Walmajarri, Bunuba and Gooniyandi, and we're now out on learning on Country as part of our language program at school.

 

[Images move through of the boat on the river, a close view of children in the boat looking at rock formations on the shore, and Marmingee and a teacher in the boat]  

 

Rulla Kelly-Mansell: The students are heading to Danngu Geikie Gorge on the Fitzroy River.

 

[Image changes to show the river moving past]

 

They're traveling upstream to Crocodile Creek.

 

[Images move through of a black cockatoo on the top of a tree, and then purple flowers waving in the wind]

 

As well as learning local Aboriginal languages the students are also discovering the importance of learning seasonal knowledge.

 

[Image changes to show the children and teachers in the boat, and then the image changes to show the boat moving down a river with rocky cliffs either side]

 

Mary Aiken: Our scientists are our old people.

 

[Image changes to show the children pointing to something on the shore, and then the image changes to show a view of the river as seen from the boat]

 

We, we learn off them. They tell us what time to pick food and hunt, you know, go fishing and go hunting.

 

[Image changes to show Mary Aiken talking to the camera, and text appears: Mary Aiken, Bunuba Elder]

 

My name's Mary Aiken. My Aboriginal name is Ngumbarmiya. My skin is Nagarra, and my muwayi, my country, is Danngu.

 

[Image changes to show a view of the setting sun, and a seasonal calendar appears in the foreground rotating in an anti-clockwise direction]

 

In Walmajarri, we have three seasons, Parranga, Yitilal, and Makurra.

 

[Image changes to show rain plopping onto water, and text appears: Yitilal – raining time]

 

Yitilal, rainy season.

 

[Image changes to show a river in the process of drying up, and text appears: Parranga – hot weather time]

 

Parranga, hot time.

 

[Image changes to show a flowering shrub, and text appears: Makurra – cold weather time]

 

And Makurra, cold weather.

 

[Images move through of a view looking down on a swirling river, flowering lilies on a pool, and a magpie swooping a kangaroo]

 

The flowers let us know when other animals or food is available.

 

[Image changes to show a paperbark tree, and then the image changes to show the paperbark flowers, and then the image changes to show a freshwater mussel, and text appears: Kurrumba – paperbark tree]

 

Like when the Kurrumba, the paper bark tree, flowers it's time to start collecting the Kakaru, freshwater mussel

 

[Image changes to show a close view of paperbark trees]

 

because the flowers and the nectar drop into the water and feed the kakaru, making them nice and tasty.

 

[Image changes to show an animation of a crocodile next to a crocodile tree, and then the image changes to show a clutch of crocodile eggs, and text appears: Purlurru, Kuwarniya]

 

At the end Parranga, the white flowers of the Purlurru, the crocodile tree, tells us that Kuwarniya, freshwater crocs, are laying their eggs.

 

[Image changes to show a view looking down on a flowing river, and then the image changes to show another view of the flowing river]

 

These eggs will be ready for us to collect in Yitilal, the rainy season. Yitilal is also a good fishing time because the river is high and the billabongs and the creeks are full.

 

[Image changes to show Marmingee talking to the camera]

 

Marmingee Hand: This time of the year is what, you know, you call winter, but we call it Mukurra, Mukurra season.

 

[Images move through to show Marmingee helping a child with a fishing reel, a child throwing a net into the water, a child holding a fish, and Marmingee talking to the camera, and text appears: Parlka – barramundi, Marrpawurl – archer fish]

 

And the fish that we get here at this time of the year, Parlka, which is barramundi goes off the bite, but other little fish like the black bream or sutty grunter, which is Jampinyparu in Walmajarri.

 

[Image changes to show the children pulling up the net with fish and carrying it to shore]

 

We get the archer fish, Marrapawurl in Walmajarri, and other fishes like the bony bream that we caught this morning for bait.

 

[Image changes to show a view of a flowering tree, and the camera zooms in on the flowers, and then out on the flower in the tree again]

 

And if you look behind us, as you can see, our Mugula(?) tree, which has got flowers on it and it's telling us that you know, we are going into the Makurra season.

 

[Image changes to show Marmingee talking to the camera]

 

So the flowers are starting to bloom and that particular bush we use when we catch catfish, Kulamajarti in Walmajarri. It's got these spikes on it, and we, if you're unlucky, if you get stung or poked by a catfish, we use that particular tree to take the, ease the pain or take the pain away. So that's one, one of the bush medicine that we use on the river.

 

[Images move through to show a view of the boat moving down the river, a goanna emerging from a burrow, and then lightning in the sky, and text appears: Kakaji, goanna]

 

Mary Aiken: In Makurra, cold weather time some Kakaji, or goannas, will stay in their burrows until the first storms come.

 

[Image changes to show the seasonal calendar rotating in an anti-clockwise direction in the foreground]

 

Rulla Kelly-Mansell: The Gooniyandi people also have three main seasons in their seasonal calendar.

 

[Image changes to show Brenda Shaw talking to the camera, and text appears: Brenda Shaw, Gooniyandi Language Teacher]

 

Brenda Shaw: This time, this season is now Moonggoowarla, in Gooniyandi we call it the Moonggoowarla season, cold weather.

 

[Image changes to show a view of a river, and the images move through of another view of the river, and then fish swimming underwater, and text appears: Moonggowarla – cold weather time]

 

And it's up and down the weather, and at this time, we don't catch many fish because of the Moonggoowarla it's very cold.

 

[Image changes to show Brenda talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show a red-brown screen, and text appears: Jambinbaroo – black bream, Barlga – barramundi, Jaliji – freshwater prawn, Laarri – bony bream]

 

Only certain fish like the black bream, Jambinbaroo, we catch here.

 

[Image changes to show Brenda talking to the camera again]

 

There's the Barlga, Jalaji, Laari all these traditional name for our fish.

 

[Image changes to show a close view of a freshwater prawn, and then the camera zooms out to show a child holding the prawn]

 

People in the cold weather, people love going out for Jalagi, that's our freshwater prawn.

 

[Image changes to show a close view of the prawn in the hand again]

 

What Walmajarri people call a Jarrampa, in our language we say Jalagi.

 

[Image changes to show a group of children pulling up a net from the river]

 

So the kids today they're caught lots of Jalagi.

 

[Image changes to show a child next to a fire holding a prawn, and then the camera zooms in on the prawn he is holding]

 

We're just waiting for the coals to come, so we can put it on the coals. Just like from the shops, except better!

 

[Image changes to show a child throwing a net into the river]

 

Rulla Kelly-Mansell: As well as freshwater prawn and bream, long neck turtles are common in this part of the river too.

 

[Image changes to show a child holding a long-neck turtle and talking]

 

Child 1: This a pretty big one.

 

[Image shows Child 2 talking and looking at the turtle]

 

Child 2: You're letting it go?

 

[Image changes to show a female walking through the bush, and then the image changes to show the female picking fruit from a tree]

 

Female: Our Bunuba seasonal calendar has four seasons.

 

[Image changes to show rain coming down, and text appears: Bulurru – wet season]

 

Bulurru is the wet season.

 

[Image changes to show a rushing river, and then images move through of a lightning storm]

 

The first storms from the south bring lightning, thunder and big gusty winds.

 

[Image changes to show a crocodile swimming through the water as rain drops on the water, and then the image changes to show kangaroos standing in the rain, and text appears: Winyji - rain]

 

Quieter eastern storms bring lots of Winyji, rain, and flooding rivers.

 

[Image changes to show fish swimming around the reeds, and then the image changes to show a goanna eating a small fish]

 

The country is green with drinking water everywhere allowing us to travel across Country harvesting animals and plants.

 

[Image changes to show birds flying through the air, and text appears: Girinybali – rains are finished]

 

The Country is most alive and active during Girinybali.

 

[Image changes to show an animation of a fish swimming across the screen and text appears: Balga – Barramundi]

 

Balga are swimming back upstream to the permanent waters.

 

[Image changes to show a yellow flower]

 

The Gilini appears during wet season.

 

[Image changes to show a close view of the yellow flower, and then the image changes to show a goanna entering the water, and text appears: Baniy – goanna]

 

When the bright yellow flowers appear this indicates that the Baniy, are fat and ready to be hunted.

 

[Image changes to show a goanna swimming through the water]

 

The Baniy are actively hunting for frogs and getting fat in Girinybali.

 

[Image changes to show rain moving down the screen, and then the image changes to show spear grass blowing in the wind, and text appears: Guluwa – winter rain, Mangulu – spear grass]

 

Winter rains called Guluwa knock down the Mangulu, spear grass, signalling cold weather.

 

[Image changes to show a silverleaf paper bark trunk, and then the image changes to show the sun shining on the water, and text appears: Bandiran – paperbark, Barrangga – hot weather season]

 

When Bandiran, silverleaf paper bark is flowering, it's Barrangga, hot weather season.

 

[Image changes to show a crocodile sleeping on the rocks, and the camera zooms in on the crocodile, and then the image changes to show a flowering mangrove, and text appears: Gayi – Freshwater crocodile, Malla – Freshwater mangrove]

 

Gayi lay their eggs in sandy riverbanks hatching when Malla, freshwater mangrove, flowers.

 

[Music plays and the image changes to show a view of the river, and then the image changes to show a female tending to a fire, and the camera zooms in on damper and prawns being cooked over the fire]

 

[Image changes to show the children climbing back onto the boat, and the image changes to show a child holding a black bream and smiling at the camera]

 

Rulla Kelly-Mansell: It has been a fun day on Crocodile Creek catching and cooking fish and learning about the different seasons.

 

[Image changes to show a red-brown screen, and text appears: What’s your favourite season?]

 

Do you mob have a favourite season?

 

[Image changes to show Lennard talking to the camera, and text appears: Lennard]

 

Lennard: My favourite season is flood time because you get to you get to fish more.

 

[Image changes to show Michael talking to the camera, and text appears: Michael]

 

Michael: Moonggoowarla and that is the cold season because I like when it rains and I like wearing my jumpers because they have more use in the cold season.

 

[Image changes to show Nissa talking to the camera, and text appears: Nissa]

 

Nissa: Yitilal which is the rainy season because when it's high floods you can get fish from anywhere you like.

 

[Image changes to show Jaquarnie talking to the camera, and text appears: Jaquarnie]

 

Jaquarnie: Moonggoowarla , and yeah.

 

[Image changes to show Marrmingee working with the children at a table, and the camera zooms in on the children colouring]

 

Rulla Kelly-Mansell: Next back to the classroom to draw some of the animals that live in the Martuwarra Fitzroy River.

 

[Image changes to show Marrmingee looking up, and then the image changes to show William talking to the camera, and holding up a picture of a barramundi he has drawn]

 

William Monroe: Hi. My name is William Monroe and this is a barramundi.

 

[Camera zooms in on the picture]

 

In Walmajarri we call this Barlga.

 

[Image changes to show Leonard holding up a picture of a freshwater prawn, and the camera zooms in on the picture]

 

Leonard: Hi. My name is Leonard and this is Jarrampa.

 

[Image changes to show Faith holding up a picture of a turtle she has drawn and talking to the camera, and the camera zooms in on the picture]

 

Faith: Hello, my name is Faith and I draw a Warraral and in English it's a turtle.

 

[Image changes to show Eli holding up a drawing of a bush turkey and talking to the camera, and the camera zooms in on the drawing]

 

Eli: My name is Eli. This is a bush turkey and in Bunuba we call it Galamuda.

 

[Images move through of a pot of pencils, a child drawing a picture, Marrmingee walking through the classroom, and a child drawing a turtle]

 

Having a language program, it teaches them about our cultural knowledge, transferring the knowledge across to our children. And it is really important to the kids to understand about the country.

 

[Image changes to show a view looking at the river, and then the image changes to show a view looking down on a rocky, dry landscape]

 

Understanding the cultural knowledge about, you know, how our old people used to live and survive, even in the river area or in the desert or wherever our people came from.

 

[Image changes to show Mary talking to the camera]

 

It is an important knowledge so that when they grow up and they remember what we told them when they were kids.

 

[Image changes to show a view looking down on the river with rocky cliffs along the edge, and then the image changes to show a goanna walking across a sandy area]

 

You know, to save the environment. The environment that our turkey and goanna are living in.

 

[Images move through of Letisha bringing a small leafy twig to show Mary, and then the image changes to show a rear view of them walking along a sandy riverbank]

 

Rulla Kelly-Mansell: Aunty Mary is making sure she passes on this knowledge to her granddaughter, Letisha, to ensure it's not lost to future generations.

 

[Image changes to a close view of the twig, and then the camera zooms out to show Mary talking and Letisha listening to her, and then the camera zooms in on the twig again]

 

Mary Aiken: This one here when the end of the season, this one starts flowering it tells you that

crocodiles preparing their nest on the sand.

 

[Image changes to show a view of the river, and the camera zooms in on the river, and then the image changes to show Mary talking to Letisha again]

 

They come up here on the sand, and when the river runs and the first rain fall because when that rain fall, it makes the sand very hot and ready for the little, little ones to hatch.

 

[Music plays and the image changes to show a view looking down on a river, and the camera pans along the river]

 

[Image changes to show Letisha and Mary walking through the bush, and then the image changes to show Letisha Davies talking to the camera, and text appears: Letisha Davies]

 

Letisha Davies: As a young leader in my community and in my school, I believe that it's really, really important that you learn from old people

 

[Image changes to show Letisha and Mary looking at the river together]

 

because they have so much knowledge.

 

[Image changes to show Letisha talking to the camera again]

 

And there's power in knowledge, you know, about all the things of your Country. Without that, I wouldn't know who I am or where I come from.

 

[Images move through to show a view looking down on the river, a view looking down on the boats and the children, and Marrmingee and the children in the classroom]

 

Rulla Kelly-Mansell: I hope you've enjoyed exploring Fitzroy Valley and learning about the local Aboriginal languages and seasonal calendars.

 

[Image changes to show a child holding up a drawing of a fish]

 

I'll leave it to Letisha to say goodbye.

 

[Image changes to show Letisha talking to the camera]

 

Letisha: Yaninja or goodbye from the Danggu mob of Fitzroy Valley.

 

[Image changes to show the sun shining over water, and text appears: Thanks to Gooniyandi Aboriginal Corporation, Yanunijarra Aboriginal Corporation, Staff and students of Fitzroy Valley District High School, Elders and residents of Fitzroy Valley, Narrated by Rulla Kelly-Mansell, CSIRO Community Producer – Emma Woodward]

 

[The CSIRO logo and new text appears: Produced by the ABC, Produced with the financial and research assistance of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)]

 

[Music plays and text appears: Indigenous knowledge is included in this film and includes art, practices, language, names and ecological and seasonal knowledge. This Indigenous knowledge is the Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) of the people and communities who shared it with their permission, and they assert their ICIP rights, Images of seasonal calendars are also protected by copyright and should not be used or reproduced without permission]

 

[Image changes to show a black screen and the ABC logo and text appears ABC, 2022 Australian Broadcasting Corporation and CSIRO]