Thirra (songs) are important kanji (now) and matja (long ago). Thirra helped us as we went through our mayi (lands) and to teach our kuthara-kuthara (young people) about our mayi.
Matja nguntaayira thirraku wathul-wathulu (Long ago, the old people knew songs). Thirra were in our thangkuray (dreams), kuri (place), kurr-kurrama (hills), wiyingkal (day), yuurrinj (night), and events that happen kanji (now).
Thirra were performed on the kurmpu (cooroboree grounds). Some thirra was only for kuwinj, watjiin, and kuthara-kuthara. Secret thirra was for wathul-wathul (old men) and matja-mukinj (old women), and to mayinj (men) and mukatinj (women).
Kurmpu mantha mayingka pitara (the corroboree grounds were nice and flat). Kulka (dancers) tied gum leaves to their knees and arms and as they moved, it made a swishing sound.
Arts
Our first
arts for kuwinj and watjiin occurred while we were on the Missions and
Stations. We began by carving emu eggs, making boomerangs, and later
making miniature spears, boomerangs, nulla nullas, digging sticks and
shields. These were mainly sold to the Mission bosses, gunjabull
(policeman) and to visitors.
The
boomerangs were special. They had the intricate carving on them like we did it in the old
days. They took a lot of time to make. We would have to find the right
tree and then take our time to make them just right. These were the
returning boomerangs or marli.
Emu Egg (kapunj ngurrunj) Carving
In Matja we would collect kapunj ngurrunj. We ate the kapunj but we also carved figures and things on the yarunj (shell) of the kapunj with thirra kukay (possum teeth). The Australian Museum has many examples of egg-carving.
Jane Harrison is a descendent of the Muruwari people and is a famous Australian. Her book "Rainbows End" tells her story of a Koori family and their struggles.
