Crow (Australian Aboriginal mythology) facts for kids
In Australian Aboriginal religion and mythology, Crow is a very important figure. He is often seen as a trickster, a culture hero, and an ancient spirit. In the Kulin nation of central Victoria, Crow is called Waang (or Wahn or Waa). He is one of two main ancestors, with the other being the serious eaglehawk named Bunjil. Stories about Crow are told by many Aboriginal groups across Australia.
Crow Brings Fire to People
One popular Dreamtime story tells how Crow brought fire to people. The Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation say that in the Dreamtime, fire was a secret. Seven women, called the Karatgurk women, kept it hidden. They lived by the Yarra River, where Melbourne is today. These women carried burning coals on their digging sticks. This allowed them to cook Murnong yams.
One day, Crow found a cooked yam. He thought it tasted much better than raw food. So, he decided he wanted to cook his own food too. But the Karatgurk women would not share their fire. Crow then planned to trick them into giving it up.
Crow caught some snakes and hid them in an ant mound. He then called the women over. He told them that ant larvae were tastier than yams. The women started digging, which made the snakes angry. The snakes attacked them. The sisters shrieked and hit the snakes with their digging sticks. They hit them so hard that the live coals flew off their sticks. Crow had been waiting for this. He quickly gathered the coals and hid them in a kangaroo skin bag.
The women soon found out their fire was stolen. They chased Crow, but he flew high into a tree, out of their reach. Bunjil the Eaglehawk had seen everything. He asked Crow for some coals to cook a possum. Crow offered to cook it for him instead. Soon, a large crowd gathered around Crow's tree. They shouted and demanded that he share the secret of fire. The noise scared Crow. At last, he threw several live coals at the crowd.
Kurok-goru, the fire-tailed finch, picked up some coals. He hid them behind his back. This is why firefinches have red tails today. Bunjil's shaman helpers, Djurt-djurt the nankeen kestrel and Thara the quail hawk, gathered the rest. The coals caused a huge bushfire. It burned Crow's feathers permanently black. The fire threatened to burn the whole land. But Bunjil worked hard and stopped its spread. The Karatgurk sisters were swept into the sky. They became the Pleiades stars. People say these stars are their glowing fire sticks.
Crow and Magpie Stories
In Western Australia, different groups tell two versions of a story about Crow and Magpie. In both stories, Crow and Magpie are brothers. They were both born with pure white feathers. Both were very proud and would argue about who was more beautiful. One day, while perched in a tree, they started to argue and then fought.
People who have the crow as their totem say the brothers fell into a fire below. Crow got burned all over, turning black. Magpie was only partly burned. Those who have the magpie as their totem tell a similar story. But they say the brothers fell into thick black mud. Magpie only slightly stained his feathers, while Crow was covered in mud.
Crow, as a totem in Indigenous Australian culture, is known for being clever and smart. He is also a trickster. He is seen as an old spirit with special knowledge from many lifetimes. Crow is also thought to be very powerful. Depending on the language group's stories, someone who holds the Crow totem might be highly respected or viewed with suspicion.
Crow and Swamp Hawk
In another legend, Crow was traveling along the Murray River. He met Swamp Hawk. Crow decided to play a trick on Swamp Hawk. He put echidna quills in an empty kangaroo rat nest. Then he tricked Swamp Hawk into jumping on them. The quills stuck and grew into Swamp Hawk's feet. But Swamp Hawk was happy about this. He found he could now catch rats more easily.
Some stories say Crow eventually left the earth. He was called up into the heavens. There, he became Canopus, which is the second-brightest star in the night sky.
Crows and Spirits
The Yanyuwa people have a legend about crows and spirits. They say that as the spirits of people who have passed away travel to the afterlife, they meet crows. These crows carry digging sticks. The crows are said to be upset with people. This is because people often chase them away from campsites when they try to find food. However, hawks and falcons protect the spirits from the crows.
