Barnumbirr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barnumbirr (Morning Star) |
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| Yolngu creator-spirit | |
Map showing the geographical location of the Yolngu language group (Highlighted in green).
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| Other names | Banumbirr, Morning Star |
| Affiliation | Creation, Death |
| Planet | Venus |
| Artefacts | Morning Star Pole |
| Gender | Female |
| Region | Arnhem Land, Australia |
| Ethnic group | Yolngu |
| Festivals | Morning Star Ceremony |
Barnumbirr, also called Banumbirr or the Morning Star, is a special creator-spirit in the Yolngu culture of Arnhem Land in Australia. The Yolngu people live in the Northern Territory. Barnumbirr is known as the planet Venus.
In Yolngu Dreaming stories, Barnumbirr guided the first humans to Australia. These first humans were the Djanggawul sisters. After they arrived safely near Yirrkala, Barnumbirr flew across the land. As she flew, she created a special path called a songline. This songline named and created animals, plants, and land features.
Songlines were very important for Aboriginal people to find their way. The path Barnumbirr flew became a songline across northern Australia. It helped Yolngu people and their neighbours travel.
Barnumbirr is also linked to death in Yolngu culture. The "Morning Star Ceremony" happens when Barnumbirr rises. During this time, living Yolngu people can talk with their ancestors. They use a special object called the "Morning Star Pole" to help them. Their ancestors are believed to be on an island called Bralgu.
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Barnumbirr's Role in Creation
Barnumbirr, as the Morning Star, is a creator spirit for the Yolngu people. Her story is part of the Dhuwa group of stories. Yolngu songlines tell how Barnumbirr guided the Djanggawul sisters. They rowed a canoe from the mythical island of Bralgu. This island is home to Wangarr, the Great Creator Spirit. The sisters came to Australia to bring Madayin Law to the Dhuwa people.
When the sisters found land near Yirrkala, Barnumbirr kept flying. She flew eastward, creating a songline. This songline described plants, animals, and land features. It also marked the borders between different clans. So, Barnumbirr’s songline became the basis of Madayin Law. It helped the Yolngu understand their land.
Barnumbirr and Death
Barnumbirr is strongly connected to death for Yolngu people. When Barnumbirr appears in the sky before sunrise, the Yolngu hold the "Morning Star Ceremony". As Venus becomes visible, the Yolngu say she pulls a rope behind her. This rope is connected to the island of Bralgu.
Along this rope, with a special "Morning Star Pole", Yolngu people can release the spirits of their dead. They can also talk with their ancestors. This 'rope' is important in Yolngu stories. It helps Barnumbirr stay close to Bralgu. It also helps the living and the dead communicate.
The Morning Star Ceremony
The Morning Star Ceremony is a funeral ceremony for the Dhuwa group. In Dhuwa stories, the Wangarr (Yolngu ancestors) perform this ceremony every night. In the real world, the ceremony is a key part of funerals for some Yolngu clans.
The ceremony starts at dusk and lasts all night. It reaches its most important point when Barnumbirr rises. When Barnumbirr rises, the spirits of those who have recently died are released. With the help of the ceremony, they go to Wangarr, the spirit-world.
Planning the Ceremony
The "Morning Star Ceremony" needs a lot of planning. It happens the night before Venus first rises as the Morning Star. This happens after about 584 days. Venus can then be seen as a Morning Star for about 263 days. The Yolngu people count these days. This helps them track Venus and plan the ceremony.
The Morning Star Pole
The Morning Star Pole is a special decorated item. It is used in the Morning Star Ceremony. It helps people talk with ancestors on Bralgu. The pole shows Barnumbirr and her tail of light. It also shows nearby stars and planets. Each Morning Star Pole is unique. It is made by different artists and clans.
Feathers from different birds are attached to the top of the pole. These feathers represent the Morning Star itself. The pole is painted with traditional patterns. These patterns are made with ochre paint. They show the artist and their environment. Strings made from pandanus leaves attach more feathers to the pole. These strings represent the rope of light that connects Barnumbirr to Bralgu. They also show nearby stars and planets.
Morning Star Poles in Art
Morning Star poles are popular in art galleries around the world. They have been shown in major Australian galleries and museums. These include QAGOMA, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, and the Art Gallery of NSW.
Gali Yalkarriwuy Gurruwiwi is a Yolngu man from Elcho Island. He is a keeper of the Morning Star story. He also makes and creates Morning Star poles. His poles have been shown in galleries worldwide. Gurruwiwi wants to use his art to bring people together. He also wants to teach them about Yolngu culture. Other artists, like Bob Burruwal, also want to share Indigenous culture through these poles.
Venus in Other Indigenous Cultures
Venus is the third brightest object in the night sky. Because of this, many Indigenous groups in Australia have their own stories about Venus. These stories describe Venus as a Morning and Evening Star. There is not much written about all these stories. Sometimes, cultural rules prevent information from being shared. But there are more detailed stories from the Euahlayi and Kamilaroi, Arrernte, and Queensland Gulf Country peoples.
Kamilaroi and Euahlayi
The Kamilaroi and Euahlayi peoples live in Northern New South Wales. Their story about Venus is different from the Yolngu one. But it is still very important. Their story tells of an Eagle-hawk named Muliyan. Muliyan once lived in a large tree and hunted people for food.
One day, some men went after him to get revenge. They set fire to the tree and killed Muliyan. The eagle-hawk then went into the sky as Muliyangah, the morning star. Euahlayi/Kamilaroi people see Muliyangah as the eyes of Baayami. Baayami watches over the earth during the night.
The Kamilaroi/Euahlayi people also have a Morning Star Ceremony. It is very important due to Baayami’s meaning. When Venus rises as an evening star, it is a sign to light a sacred fire. This fire is re-lit every night. It stays lit until Venus rises as a Morning Star. Then the flame is put out. This ceremony also uses a wooden pole. It is held flat to show the connection between different groups of people. It also shows the unity of marriage.
Arrernte People
For the Arrernte people, Venus is central to their story of Tnorala. Tnorala is a large, ring-shaped mountain range. It is west of Alice Springs. Arrernte people believe that long ago, some women turned into stars. They danced the Corroboree in the Milky Way.
As they danced, one woman dropped a baby. The baby fell to earth and made the shape of the mountain range. The baby’s parents are the morning star (father) and evening star (mother). They still take turns looking for their baby. Arrernte parents tell their children not to stare at the morning or evening stars. This is because the baby’s parents might think a staring child is their own and take them away.
North Queensland Gulf Country
There are similarities between Barnumbirr's role and the Morning Star in North Queensland's Gulf Country Dreaming. Gulf Country Aboriginal peoples believed in two brothers. One was the moon (older), and the other was the morning star (younger). They traveled across the land long ago. They used a boomerang to create valleys, hills, and seas.
In Arts and Media
Dance
Banula Marika worked with Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, a choreographer. They created a dance called Morning Star (2012–3). Marika is a keeper of the Morning Star story. He helped make sure the dance was culturally correct. The Mirramu Dance Company performed Morning Star in March 2013. This was at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.
Film
A documentary film called Morning Star is being made. It is about Djalu Gurruwiwi. He is a famous elder and master player of the yidaki. As of January 2021, the film is in its final stages of production.
Images for kids
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Map showing the geographical location of the Yolngu language group (Highlighted in green).
See also
