The 'Dreaming' is used within Aboriginal culture as a connection to ones set of beliefs or spirituality and is unique to a specific nation. Shared stories of creation vary across Australia, for example, the story of how the birds got their colours differ from northern NSW to those told in Western Australia. The 'Dreaming' encompasses stories of land, plant, animal, spirits, people, laws and customs. Aboriginals of NSW, believe that all tribes people exist eternally within the 'Dreaming'.
The Kamilaroi nation observes spiritual connections through a greater being named Baiame (Byamee, Baayami, Baiamai). The 'All Father' of the Kamilaroi nation is of great significance and is observed as a supernatural ancestor who was the creator of earth who sent spirits to align valleys. It was Baiame's laws with which the Aboriginal tribes people observed for thousands of years, which remained unchanged until colonisation. Songs, dance and customary traditions are said to have come from the lores and rites of Baiame. The 'Bora' initiation site for the transition of boy to man, is said to be first crafted by Baiame. Once all creation had been completed on earth, Baiame returned to the sky and now looks over the Kamilaroi tribes people as an observer.
Baiame's stories of creation, sky knowledge and celestial formations are shared extensively through oral accounts from generation to generation through the culmination of stories known as the 'Dreaming'. Publicly, dialogue of Baiame is forbidden and women are not to observe rock art work of 'Baiame' or enter 'Bora' initiation sites when inappropriate to the formal ceremony.
A well known 'Dreaming' story with celestial connections to the Kamilaroi nation is the story of the 'Emu in the Sky'. Representation of the emu can be identified within the constellation (a group of stars forming recognisable patterns which clearly identify an apparent form of a mythological creature) situated next to the Southern Cross groupings of stars. During different periods of time across a calendar year, the story of the 'Emu in the Skye' comes to life.
Visibility of the emu is made apparent in the night skies in March when it is said that the female emu is running, chasing males in the breeding season. Significance lies within the story as the emu's eggs, which become apparent during this period of coupling, are ready for collection providing a reminder for the people of the Kamilaroi tribe. During the periods of April and May, when the Milky Way is at its strongest, the emu can be clearly identified. Please see the image below, represented on the Australian Indigenous Astronomy website regarding the female emu in the mating phase of its life cycle.
The Kamilaroi nation observes spiritual connections through a greater being named Baiame (Byamee, Baayami, Baiamai). The 'All Father' of the Kamilaroi nation is of great significance and is observed as a supernatural ancestor who was the creator of earth who sent spirits to align valleys. It was Baiame's laws with which the Aboriginal tribes people observed for thousands of years, which remained unchanged until colonisation. Songs, dance and customary traditions are said to have come from the lores and rites of Baiame. The 'Bora' initiation site for the transition of boy to man, is said to be first crafted by Baiame. Once all creation had been completed on earth, Baiame returned to the sky and now looks over the Kamilaroi tribes people as an observer.
Baiame's stories of creation, sky knowledge and celestial formations are shared extensively through oral accounts from generation to generation through the culmination of stories known as the 'Dreaming'. Publicly, dialogue of Baiame is forbidden and women are not to observe rock art work of 'Baiame' or enter 'Bora' initiation sites when inappropriate to the formal ceremony.
A well known 'Dreaming' story with celestial connections to the Kamilaroi nation is the story of the 'Emu in the Sky'. Representation of the emu can be identified within the constellation (a group of stars forming recognisable patterns which clearly identify an apparent form of a mythological creature) situated next to the Southern Cross groupings of stars. During different periods of time across a calendar year, the story of the 'Emu in the Skye' comes to life.
Visibility of the emu is made apparent in the night skies in March when it is said that the female emu is running, chasing males in the breeding season. Significance lies within the story as the emu's eggs, which become apparent during this period of coupling, are ready for collection providing a reminder for the people of the Kamilaroi tribe. During the periods of April and May, when the Milky Way is at its strongest, the emu can be clearly identified. Please see the image below, represented on the Australian Indigenous Astronomy website regarding the female emu in the mating phase of its life cycle.
The Australian Indigenous Astronomy website offers the expereiece of how to find the emu in the sky:
Find the dark patch of sky between the Southern Cross and the pointers.
The dark area is known as the Coalsack by astronomers,
which are dense clouds of interstellar dust. The Coalsack forms the head of the
emu and stretching to the left is its long dark neck. Its roundish body is next to
Scorpius and its legs are towards the horizon. Images: Barnaby Norris.
Find the dark patch of sky between the Southern Cross and the pointers.
The dark area is known as the Coalsack by astronomers,
which are dense clouds of interstellar dust. The Coalsack forms the head of the
emu and stretching to the left is its long dark neck. Its roundish body is next to
Scorpius and its legs are towards the horizon. Images: Barnaby Norris.
As time progresses in the calendar year, the 'Emu in the Sky' constellation moves to form a new configuration. In June and July, the emus legs vanish signifying the male emu resting on the nest of the emu eggs in the incubation phase of life.
It is during this time, that the planning of the male initiation takes place. The ceremony usually takes place in summer, yet the constellation of the 'Emu in the Sky' figures prominently in the formulation of the important initiation ceremony. This is due to the 'Bora' circles being signified in the night sky as part of the Milky Way and Southern Cross collection of stars and shades of darkness. These circles are rectified and displayed as part of the ceremony by aligning rock formations on the ground as part of the 'Bora' sacred ground. These circles match the configuration mirrored in the skies above.
There is a strong connection between the emu and the formal 'Bora' celebration of male initiation. Significance between the two is demonstrated through the ideals of the male emu nurturing and rearing the young emu eggs and the male Elders preparing the initiates for the transition into manhood.
It is during this time, that the planning of the male initiation takes place. The ceremony usually takes place in summer, yet the constellation of the 'Emu in the Sky' figures prominently in the formulation of the important initiation ceremony. This is due to the 'Bora' circles being signified in the night sky as part of the Milky Way and Southern Cross collection of stars and shades of darkness. These circles are rectified and displayed as part of the ceremony by aligning rock formations on the ground as part of the 'Bora' sacred ground. These circles match the configuration mirrored in the skies above.
There is a strong connection between the emu and the formal 'Bora' celebration of male initiation. Significance between the two is demonstrated through the ideals of the male emu nurturing and rearing the young emu eggs and the male Elders preparing the initiates for the transition into manhood.
In November, the shapes within the constellation continues to change. The new formation signifies a featherless emu resting in a waterhole. Gawarrgay/Gawarghoo, the featherless emu, features low against the horizon and only appears as a 'body' of an emu. The resting place within a watering hole where the emu can be found gives meaning to the Aboriginal people of the Kamilaroi tribe as it suggests that the emu is now looking after everything that lives within the nation. It is during this time in the calendar year, that watering holes are often full of water as it is a natural consequence of the constellation.
During summer, the remnants of the constellation dip below the horizon, displacing the emu and the Milky Way, signifying that the emu has left the watering hole, often being physically demonstrated on land through the drying up of the available water.
During summer, the remnants of the constellation dip below the horizon, displacing the emu and the Milky Way, signifying that the emu has left the watering hole, often being physically demonstrated on land through the drying up of the available water.
This journey of the 'Emu in the Sky' as part of a constellation shares a story for the Kamilaroi people. The connection between the emu on the land and the the 'Emu in the Sky' signifies the connection between earth, skies and the traditional rings of the 'Bora' ceremony all linked in with the 'All Father - Baiame'.
Kamilaroi - A Nations Identity website designed and compiled by Michelle Carpenter. Macquarie University student number 43601723