In time past, Rirratjingu and Djambarrpuyngu people (Miliwurrwurr) and Bararrngu lived here at Yirrkala and also at Dhambaliya. This was their common ground for hunting. One of the projects of the time was building fish traps. When people today refer to hunting at Djawulpawuy (Mt Saunders) or Bremer Island (Dhambaliya) we are re-enacting this event through songs and dance.

This is a reflection of the people building their fish traps and the outcome of that was the fish being trapped in them and the people hunting and collecting them from it.

We also use Wulthu (fishtrap) as a metaphor – which was also used as a symbol by the old Yirrkala Dhanbul Council. The symbol represents when Yolngu refer to the old ways – we use the metaphor as keeping ideas in place and safe from outside influences.

Printed Basil Hall Editions November 2016
FMP 14U

text courtesy of Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre