Wollunqua facts for kids

Wollunqua (also spelled Wollunka or Wollunkua) is a special snake-god from the stories of the Warramunga people in Australia. These people live in the Northern Territory. Wollunqua is known as a god of rain and new life (fertility). This powerful snake is a bit like the famous "Rainbow Serpent" found in the traditional stories of many other Aboriginal Australian groups.

The Warramunga people believe Wollunqua first appeared from a waterhole called Kadjinara, located in the Murchison Ranges. This snake is said to be incredibly long, stretching for many miles! When people talk about Wollunqua in public, they often use a different name, urkulu nappaurinnia. This is because calling the snake by its real name too often might make it lose control and come out, which they believe could be dangerous. Wollunqua can also create a rainbow in the sky whenever it wishes.

Who is Wollunqua?

Wollunqua is a very important ancestor for the Warramunga people. It is especially significant for the Uluuru group within the tribe. Among the Warramunga, snake ancestors are highly respected. Many people in the Uluuru group are connected to snake totems, like Wollunqua, Thalaualla (a black snake), or Tjudia (a deaf adder). However, Wollunqua is seen as the most important of them all, considered the "great father" of all snakes.

The Story of Wollunqua's Journey

The stories say that Wollunqua came into being at a special place during the "Wingara time" (a time long, long ago, often called the Dreamtime). From there, Wollunqua traveled across the land. The journey began at the Kadjinara waterhole, which is in a rocky valley in the Murchison Range. From there, the snake traveled west.

At one point in the story, Wollunqua tried to go back into the earth to return to a place called Thapauerlu. It couldn't do this until it reached a spot called Ununtumurra. There, Wollunqua finally succeeded, diving underground and traveling back to Thapauerlu, where it is believed to live to this day.

Wollunqua's Travels and Sacred Places

Wollunqua also traveled east, sometimes moving underground and sometimes coming to the surface. At different places, Wollunqua performed special ceremonies. As it traveled, it left behind many spirit children, creating important spiritual places for the tribe.

There are eleven main spots linked to Wollunqua's journeys.

• The first is called Pitingari. Here, there is a waterhole where the old Wollunqua is said to have come out of the earth and looked around.
• Still traveling underground, Wollunqua reached and stopped at a place called Antipataringa.
• From Antipataringa, Wollunqua continued underground to Tjunguniari. At Tjunguniari, the snake came out and moved among the sand-hills. It was so long that even though its head was many miles from Kadjinara, its tail was still back at its starting point!
• The last place on its travels, Ununtumurra, is especially important for the ceremonies related to Wollunqua.