Japangardi, Japanangka, Napangardi and Napanangka (Green Group)

Themes: Warlu (Fire) - Wake Up, Wake Up

A new day is dawning. Birds are celebrating with their morning songs; the night is broken into sunlight. It is time to clear the way ahead of us and embark on a new path and a new journey. This is walyka, the time of Napangardi and Napanangka. The wet season is over and all around us things are growing. It is time for us to grow as well.

The morning star is strongest at this time. It is known as Palpawarnu, "the wise one", and its arrival triggers a celebration of the existence of land and people.

In the Marnakurrawarnu initiation ceremony, young men are handed over from their mothers to the law men in the community. This symbolises a new stage in their development, as they transition from milk learning, to meat learning. By completing this initiation, these young men are seen to be re-born. Embers from the jarra, fire, are thrown into the air, to represent the sun and the morning star rising into the sky. A re-birth in itself.

Jupurrula, Jakamarra, Napurrula and Nakamarra (Red Group)

Themes: Wampana (Spectacled Hare Wallaby)

It is pirriya, the dry season, the time of Nakamarra and Napurrurla. We are covering up, as the air is cool. But the sun is high in the sky and we can see everything around us. We can see the land, and the body of the Kangaroo, which represents law and responsibility.

The Kangaroo represents this country and the earth. Its body helps us understand the inner-working of things. The intricate systems that make up our bodies, our law and the world around us. This is known as Kuruwarri, which means "the living stories that are etched inside us".

Our world is made up of many different systems. All of these systems combine to make one, such as in a body. The Kangaroo teaches us that we have to work together as a system in order to survive. It is our responsibility to help each other and care for each other. If we don't stick together, we will break apart. The body of the community will start to break down.

Stick Together Don't Break Apart

We all have a different part to play. The law is what keeps us together and helps us understand our place in that system.

Japaljarri, Jungarrayi, Napaljarri and Nungarrayi (Yellow Group)

Themes: Witi (Leafy Poles) - Make Good Choices

Japaljarri; Jungarrayi. They are the binders, connecting us to the sky, and the land. To the teachings of the emu, and the law of the Kangaroo. They remind us of the importance of knowledge and wisdom.

If we understand the positive and the negative consequences of our actions, we will be able to make the right choices. If we are hungry for knowledge, we will feed on that knowledge and it will help us become strong and resilient, like a tree.

The warlpiri word for tree is watiya, which comes from wati, meaning "man". The trees represent human beings, planted in their homeland, standing firm and strong, ready for whatever comes. Trees can survive storms, flooding, and even bushfires. So too, if we gather the right knowledge and work hard to understand our environment, we can stand strong and firm no matter what the world throws at us.

Jangala, Jampijinpa, Nangala and Nampijinpa (Blue Group)

Themes: Yankirri/Karna Nganja (Emu)

The emu is disappearing from the sky, diving into the ocean. This signals the arrival of the wet season. The water, ngapa, is everywhere. It is a time for celebration, but also for learning. The emu is our teacher, feeding us the gift of knowledge.

The emu tells us we must seek out our learning. We may have to look closely, because sometimes the lessons are hidden. But if we are hungry for knowledge, we will dig it up like food, then feed on the knowledge to make ourselves strong. By learning about this country, we learn about ourselves. If we discard this teaching, we are left vulnerable.

Digging for Knowledge

Knowledge is given to us as a gift. Once it has been given to us, we become a gift to someone else. Once we have learnt through our own experience, we can pass the gift of knowledge on to others.

Mothers Exhortation

Theme: Kurdiji

Kurdiji. A time of initiation. Young boys within the tribe are becoming men. This is an important time for Warlpiri people. The boys have been nurtured and cared for by their mothers during the early stages of life. This connection between mother and child is very strong and brings many crucial lessons. During Kurdiji, the young boy is handed from his mother to the elder men, to begin the next stages of learning.