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Djang'kawu
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==Story== The Djang'kawu are three siblings, two female and one male, who created the landscape of Australia and covered it with [[flora and fauna]]. They came by [[canoe]] from the island of [[Baralku]] (Burralku) in the east at night-time, guided by the [[Venus in culture#Other cultures|Morning Star]] (the planet [[Venus]]), landing at [[Yalangbara]].<ref name=wam/> The sisters, Bitjiwurrurru and Madalatj,<ref name=nmaancestors/> were the custodians of [[Australian Aboriginal law|ceremonial law]], and carried with them their [[digging stick]]s, feathered [[headwear]] and [[Australian Aboriginal artefacts#Sacred items|sacred objects]] hidden in their basket and mats. The objects changed into various [[landform]]s along their route, and they created [[freshwater]] wells at Yalangbara by plunging their [[digging stick]]s into the sand, after which the digging sticks turned into a variety of plant species.<ref name=wam>{{cite web | title=Yalangbara: art of the Djang'kawu|first=Margie |last=West | website=[[Western Australian Museum]] | date=7 December 2010 | url=http://museum.wa.gov.au/whats-on/yalangbara/background-essay | access-date=17 July 2021}}</ref> Their [[clap sticks]] (''bilma'') turned into rock formations.<ref name=nmaancestors/> At a site known as Balma, high among the [[sand dune]]s, the Djang'kawu sisters gave birth to the first of the Rirratjingu clan, and performed the first [[ngarra ceremony]], which is now one of the major ceremonies of the region.<ref name=wam/><ref name=nmaancestors/> The story includes a meeting with [[Makassan contact with Australia|Makassans]] (''Bayini'') cooking [[sea cucumber|trepang]] (''dharripa'') on the island of Wapilina in [[Lalawuy Bay]]. The siblings ask them to leave their land.<ref name=nmaancestors/> The Djang'kawu continue westwards, producing more offspring which gave rise to other clans of the Dhuwa moiety.<ref name=nmaancestors/>
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