Barnumbirr
Sign in to saveAlso known as Banumbirr, Morning Star
Barnumbirr, also spelt Bunumbirr or Banumbirr and also known as the Morning Star, is a creator-spirit in the Yolngu culture of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia, who is identified as the planet Venus. In Yolngu Dreaming mythology, she is believed to have guided the first humans, the Djanggawul sisters, to Australia. After the Djanggawul sisters arrived safely near Yirrkala (at Yalangbara) in North East Arnhem Land, Barnumbirr flew across the land from east to west, creating a songline which named and created the animals, plants, and geographical features.
~12 min read
Article
19 sectionsContents
- Role in creation
- Relationship with death
- The Morning Star Ceremony
- Planning the Morning Star Ceremony
- The Morning Star Pole
- Public interest in Morning Star poles
- Venus in other Australian Indigenous cultures
- Kamilaroi and Euahlayi
- Arrernte
- North Queensland Gulf Country Aboriginal peoples
- Further interpretations
- Songlines and mapping
- Songlines and Australia's highway network
- In the arts and media
- Dance
- Film
- See also
- References
- External links
Barnumbirr, also spelt Bunumbirr or Banumbirr and also known as the Morning Star, is a creator-spirit in the Yolngu culture of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia, who is identified as the planet Venus. In Yolngu Dreaming mythology, she is believed to have guided the first humans, the Djanggawul sisters, to Australia. After the Djanggawul sisters arrived safely near Yirrkala (at Yalangbara) in North East Arnhem Land, Barnumbirr flew across the land from east to west, creating a songline which named and created the animals, plants, and geographical features.
Songlines were an important navigational tool for Aboriginal people. The route that Barnumbirr flew above northern Australia became a songline that spans multiple language groups and was therefore useful for travelling Yolngu and their neighbours. Research suggests that this songline through the Northern Territory and Western Australia, and others tracing paths in New South Wales and Queensland, have formed part of Australia’s network of motorways.