Gumbaynggirr Dreaming Story Collection

Description

Gumbaynggirr Yuludarla Jandaygam – (Gumbaynggirr Dreaming Story Collection)

A profound collection that stands as one of the most comprehensive compilations of Dreaming stories from Gumbaynggirr Country on the East Coast of Australia. This remarkable book opens a window to the history and stories of the Gumbaynggirr people, spotlighting important cultural figures such as Yuludarla, Gawnggan, and Birrugan, alongside narratives like the Muurrbay Bundani – The tree of life, How the sea was made, and Moon Man – Giidanyba.

Presented in the Gumbaynggirr language, with English translations, this book captures stories from the Southern, Northern, and Nymboidan groups. It honors the voices of our Ancestral storytellers with both authenticity and accessibility, ensuring that the wisdom of these narratives are preserved with integrity and available to all.

Written and compiled by Steve Morelli, Gary Williams, and Dallas Walker and vividly illustrated by Shaa Smith, readers receive far more than a reading experience. The cultural insights, language features, and backgrounds of Miirlarl (special places) woven throughout the pages preserve the knowledge and essence of the always-relevant Dreaming story themes.

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Published:2016
Publisher: Muurbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative
Author/Compiled By: Steve Morelli, Gary Williams and Dallas Walker.
Artwork: Shaa Smith

‘Language as culture is the collective memory bank of a people’s experience in history. Culture is almost indistinguishable from language’ – Mukoma Wa Ngugi