The importance of connection to and caring for Country are central to this story from one of its story holders, Aunt Shaa Smith, and for Ngambaa and Gumbaynggirr Countries on the NSW mid-north coast.
During the creation time, Wirriiga the two Goanna Sisters pushed their yam sticks into the ground and sea water came out trapping some people far out to the east. The Dunggiirr brothers (koalas) used their insides to build a bridge of gut strings for the people. There was however one troublemaker, Baalijin, an Eastern quoll, who threated to chop the bridge down with an axe, scaring the people trying to cross. He called up Yanggaay the shark and Garruuja the whale to scare the people. Gurruuja assured the people that he did not come to frighten or harm them but to explore the new country and the whale performed a song full of love and respect for all living things.
The book uses different mediums including double page scenic photographs of Country, significant people in particular on the book’s endpapers. The artwork telling the story is mixed media with acrylics, oil, pastels, photography and digital imagery. The combination of contemporary photographs and the created artwork work together to create a blending of Culture, Country and history. There is a map of Ngambaa Country, where the story is set and celebrated through song and the local Indigenous languages.
Aunty Shaa Smith is a proud Gumbaynggirr woman who leads the Yandaarra Caring for Country Group and together they have created this book to share, learn and live the story teaching respect for and connection to Country through the stories of the mid-north NSW coast.
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
