Her story: a Nyangbul journey through time and place
My Traditional homelands is Bordered by coastal plains, hinterland, rainforests and is ideally positioned as one of the worlds most magnificent relaxation and activity centre. Situated in the most unique echo systems that take in the Brunswick River, Ballina and Evans Head.
The most eastern point of Australia you find yourself exploring the unique heritage of the Bundjalung Coast. Cape Byron is the most eastern point of Australia at high tide, Flat Rock near Ballina is the furthest point east of Australia at low tide.
Ngangbul it is one of 17 dialects or languages spoken within the Bundjalung Nation. I am a descendant of Babba Jack (John) Cook(1854-1961), recorded the Custodian 1960's living at Cabbage Tree Island. Our Clans Totem is the 'Dolphin' (Gwandi) Mythological site of the Dolphin is found in the Richmond River, a special and sacred place and story of 'How Dolphins Came About'. There are many stories of dolphins each has its origin and sacred dreaming site(djurbil).
My fathers uncle, Douglas Cook recalls stories from his father and mother of the massacres in the 1850's to 1900's. His mother Susan was born at Bangalow her father was Jack Fawcett early settlers did not know how to read or right) took this name from her father Jack Fawcett and Bobby Fawcett. She was the last of the Brunswick River Tribe and a descendant of the People from the Brunswick River. Susan met Bubba at a race meeting in Mullumbimby and was married at Whyralla near Lismore they had seven sons and five daughters. The Cook family was recorded as using a 45,000 year old site for ceremonies in our traditional homelands.
Bubba was known to have use ceremonial sites at Mt Butherm near Mullumbimby, Wooyong, Tyagrah North of Byron Bay, Byron Bay, Broken Head, middens and camping area at the Pass and Taylors lake he was also known to be the last man to lead ceremonies at Broken Head, and Evans Head, some of these ceremonies and gatherings he initiated was to celebrate rain its banishment or its forth coming. His son Douglas Cook often practiced spiritual business at Wooyung near Brunswick Heads, Broken Head, Ballina and the Evans River.
Before settlement coastal and inland boundaries of the Ngangbul people were patrolled by Ngangbul warriors to keep the uninvited out. Mythological story of the Goanna and Poison Snake Dreaming story create western, northern and Southern tribal boundary of our People. Song lines created by dream time giants trails was used by visiting clans as passage to attended gatherings, ceremony, feasts, festivals, initiation of young boys and seasonal gatherings.
The Brunswick river is the boundary between Ngangbul and Minyangbul tribes before settlement Where the Byron Bay Lighthouse stands was once a traditional bora ground used to invite other Bundjalung clans in the north & west to ceremonies initiated by our tribe, when the flames are igniting. Distant clans formed pilgrimage to our festivals returning kidnapped wives and children to our homelands.
Butherm stories or lore established customs, lore/law. These stories tell of the legendary journey of the Three Brothers who first came to this land with their families and mother. The Eldest Brother Yarbirin according to legends handed down the lore/law of the land from Bubarah the Creator (God) whom then taught his brothers Mamoon and Birung.
Nyangbul Custodians are direct descendants of Yarbirin the Law/Lore Maker. Our dreamtime stories beliefs, ceremonial and spiritual stories was past down through customary law and through our elders in ceremony, today we survived as the original inhabitants for over 60,000 years.
Margaret Sharpe records 'Gabenbah' a Ngangbul word from Byron Bay meaning (place near the big scrub). To
learn more about Lois and her people the Traditional Owners contact her for a leisurely tour. or make a booking to hear her stories of legends and country.
Contact Lois on:
+61405654280
Email: aboriginalconcepts@gmail.com
The most eastern point of Australia you find yourself exploring the unique heritage of the Bundjalung Coast. Cape Byron is the most eastern point of Australia at high tide, Flat Rock near Ballina is the furthest point east of Australia at low tide.
Ngangbul it is one of 17 dialects or languages spoken within the Bundjalung Nation. I am a descendant of Babba Jack (John) Cook(1854-1961), recorded the Custodian 1960's living at Cabbage Tree Island. Our Clans Totem is the 'Dolphin' (Gwandi) Mythological site of the Dolphin is found in the Richmond River, a special and sacred place and story of 'How Dolphins Came About'. There are many stories of dolphins each has its origin and sacred dreaming site(djurbil).
My fathers uncle, Douglas Cook recalls stories from his father and mother of the massacres in the 1850's to 1900's. His mother Susan was born at Bangalow her father was Jack Fawcett early settlers did not know how to read or right) took this name from her father Jack Fawcett and Bobby Fawcett. She was the last of the Brunswick River Tribe and a descendant of the People from the Brunswick River. Susan met Bubba at a race meeting in Mullumbimby and was married at Whyralla near Lismore they had seven sons and five daughters. The Cook family was recorded as using a 45,000 year old site for ceremonies in our traditional homelands.
Bubba was known to have use ceremonial sites at Mt Butherm near Mullumbimby, Wooyong, Tyagrah North of Byron Bay, Byron Bay, Broken Head, middens and camping area at the Pass and Taylors lake he was also known to be the last man to lead ceremonies at Broken Head, and Evans Head, some of these ceremonies and gatherings he initiated was to celebrate rain its banishment or its forth coming. His son Douglas Cook often practiced spiritual business at Wooyung near Brunswick Heads, Broken Head, Ballina and the Evans River.
Before settlement coastal and inland boundaries of the Ngangbul people were patrolled by Ngangbul warriors to keep the uninvited out. Mythological story of the Goanna and Poison Snake Dreaming story create western, northern and Southern tribal boundary of our People. Song lines created by dream time giants trails was used by visiting clans as passage to attended gatherings, ceremony, feasts, festivals, initiation of young boys and seasonal gatherings.
The Brunswick river is the boundary between Ngangbul and Minyangbul tribes before settlement Where the Byron Bay Lighthouse stands was once a traditional bora ground used to invite other Bundjalung clans in the north & west to ceremonies initiated by our tribe, when the flames are igniting. Distant clans formed pilgrimage to our festivals returning kidnapped wives and children to our homelands.
Butherm stories or lore established customs, lore/law. These stories tell of the legendary journey of the Three Brothers who first came to this land with their families and mother. The Eldest Brother Yarbirin according to legends handed down the lore/law of the land from Bubarah the Creator (God) whom then taught his brothers Mamoon and Birung.
Nyangbul Custodians are direct descendants of Yarbirin the Law/Lore Maker. Our dreamtime stories beliefs, ceremonial and spiritual stories was past down through customary law and through our elders in ceremony, today we survived as the original inhabitants for over 60,000 years.
Margaret Sharpe records 'Gabenbah' a Ngangbul word from Byron Bay meaning (place near the big scrub). To
learn more about Lois and her people the Traditional Owners contact her for a leisurely tour. or make a booking to hear her stories of legends and country.
Contact Lois on:
+61405654280
Email: aboriginalconcepts@gmail.com