Yagaleh Dreaming Stories Mural
Yagaleh
Yagaleh means ‘making/doing’. This mural depicts the Yagaleh of various Dreaming Ancestors from the moment of creation to today. It is a collection of Dreaming stories connected to the artists, brought to life through their art.
Songlines
Songlines are represented by the 7 circles, 7 generations held by our Lore. Mother, Father and Child.
Songlines are our highway of connection. We navigate with our songlines and follow the stars, using them for trade, connecting mobs with each other. They guided us across the deserts, over mountains and along rivers. They showed us how to care for Country so Country can care for us. They are more than just paths, they are our living library.
Stepping into the Dreaming
As you walk through the tunnel, you’re stepping into the Dreaming. Each painting carries a story passed down through generations, follow the path, and let the stories of Country unfold around you. As you enter the tunnel one of the smallest birds, Jingeri Jingeri (Willy Wag tail in Yugambeh language), greets you to say hello to all visitors.
Symbol of Gathering
As you enter the space, look up and see a symbol of Gathering as it invites you to enjoy being on Country.
Flying in, just off your right shoulder you will find the Yugambeh Totem, the Miben, the majestic and strong Wedge Tailed-Eagle. He will watch over all that are in the Sanctuary.
Borobi and the Great Battle
Over your left shoulder the peaceful Borobi (Koala) sits among the healing powers of the Eucalyptus leaves. He is the caretaker of our medicine leaves which are important for health, ceremony and dance. The Koala that sits on the floor has a larger tail attached to him but it disappeared long ago in the Great Battle when the animals of the land, sea, and sky fought in a three-sided war for supremacy. The King Parrot bit the tail off Borobi and he ran up a tree in retreat. You can still hear him crying for his lost tail today. He also serves as a reminder to not be greedy, as he stole the remaining water while others were out protecting Country. He now only has the water from the leaves to quench his thirst.
Connection to Spirits and Animals
Within the artwork are many animals that play an important role for First Nations People. See if you can find the Platypus. He reminds us of freshwater lore where we need to take care of freshwater for everyone and every creature. A true connection to all spirits and animals.
The Echidna is the keeper of our songlines. They walk along these paths today, the same ones our old people followed. It is a reminder to stay on our own paths.
Smoking Ceremony
Climbing the walls are the Green Ants and their larvae medicine. They were used for the common cold and chest issues, crushed and inhaled. The egg / Larvae and pupae from the nest can be mixed with salt water and taken orally.
Smoking comes into this space. Smoke cleanses the air, revealing harmful spirits and driving them from a place. It also cleanses the physical world, creating a ‘shield’ that evil cannot easily penetrate. Looking up to the sky you will see Pelicans flying around the moon. They dance for him to ensure we have gentle rise and fall of out tides. When a storm is coming, they will circle around the mountain in the south. They also became a sign of abundance, as mob would sing to each which conveyed to the hearer that our land was a wonderful home country; a land of plenty.
Mother Emu and Old Man Kangaroo
In the middle of the tunnel and resting on the ceiling is Nguruny ‘Mother Emu’ and Guruman ‘Old man Kangaroo’ as they dance together. Pictured in the black spaces that are in the Milky way.
These two spirits, mother Emu born from the Nguru, and old man Kangaroo born from the Guru. It is the guru and nguru interpolating that creates the Guruhmgan ‘The Stars’. Their never-ending power and force continues to create everything.
On the head of the Emu our Southern cross rests, an enduring timekeeper that turns throughout the year, as Guruman and Nguruny dance.
There is another constellation on the roof that is the Seven Sisters. The ancient mothers of the Yugambeh people, two of whom (Wuyul & Yugal) became the wives of Jabreen. This is not their true position in the night sky but an important songline.
How The Birds Got Their Colours
As you reach the centre of the tunnel each side of the space is two bright birds recognised throughout the Sanctuary and a part of the tale of ‘How the birds got their colours’. They are the Wan’gam Rainbow Lorikeet. The Dingo Story travels from over the border to the Yugambeh Language Region.
The Dingos represent companionship, loyalty, and lore. Their stories start at Wollumbin and travel to the Yugambeh, forming the creeks such as Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creek. As the dogs are carried over the mountains after their demise, various pieces of them formed parts of the mountain range.
The Two Mighty Snakes
As you continue down the tunnel you will find on either of the two mighty snakes rest.
Rainbow Serpent, a universally known spirit, one of the earliest in the Yugambeh dreaming. His movements carve the vast oceans and early waterways. It is said his scales can still be found in certain areas.
The Goan Waterhole
This hunting story is about the Goan Waterhole. This never dries out in the worst droughts, the Goan water hole is always full of water.
Many years ago our Elders (wise men) of the tribe called on biamie (god), Gulna (Mother Earth) and the rainbow serpent (snake) to help the rainbow serpent to burrow his way from the sea to the Goan water hole.
In the worst of the drought, the Goan waterhole would dry up. But since the rainbow serpent burrowed his way from the sea to the Goan waterhole, it remained full, as mother earth (gulna) cleans the water on its’ journey to the water hole, so our tribe and the animals can drink it.
The Birra Gubba People’s Creation Story
On the other wall is GUBULLA MUNDA or GABUL ’Diamond Python’: The Birri Gubba people’s creation story. Gubulla Munda travelled through the waters, up to the dry land and rested, the perspiration of Gubulla Munda formed the hills, mountains, rivers and streams. Gubulla Munda travelled back down to the water and rested. As Gubulla Munda moved through the waters, the droppings formed the islands, where the Birri Gubba People live still to this day.
The Cottonwood Tree
Tradtionally Birri Gubba and other Northern Queensland Traditional Owners like the Kuku Yalanji would fish, trade, live and travel from the mainland to the islands using canoes made from ‘Cottonwood’ or ‘Bleeding Hearts Tree’. When the Cottonwood flowered The Kuku Yalanji people know through their songlines that it’s time to gather eggs from the Bush-hen, their feet trailing away from the Cottonwood flora and down to their nests along the southern wall. The Native Cottonwood the bright orange and yellow were used in this region for string making and creating fishing spear, among many other things.
The Mighty Goanna
From the flowers, follow the tracks up to the ceiling and you will find the mighty Goanna (Yawgara) holding the Peace Spear, which he wielded in the Great Battle. As he carried it up the coast his meandering movements creating the Isles and Inlets of the Gold Coast, and each stab of the spear a new waterhole.
As you leave the Kookaburra is waiting to sing the sun to sleep for another day.
See The Tunnel At Night
Open Wednesday – Saturday
As night falls, the tunnel awakens! The Dreaming stories are brought to life through illumination and sound. Step inside the tunnel when you come and experience Astra Lumina, an enchanting night walk beneath the stars.
Jingeri – Hello
We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the greater Yugambeh language region, the Country on which Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Hospital are situated today. We recognise their continuing connections to the land, sky, waters (waterways), and wildlife. We thank them for caring for this Country and its ecosystems.
We celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and we pay our respect to Elders past and present.
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