I took some notes during my time with the Kuku Yulangi tribe in Queensland. I might as well save them notes here. Observing different tribes’ values and traditions both in Australia and the US is helping me for my “Universal Declaration of Human Duties” project…
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Kuku is their language
Yulangi means their land
Their territory was between the River and the Black mountains. They were not allowed to cross the border because it wasn’t their lands they didn’t know the hazards.
They had to ask for permission to cross the border.
The rainforest was their supermarket and their pharmacy. Everything they needed was there.
They would always only take what they need.
The elders would teach the young ones about the plants and the animals etc… The men would teach the sacred ways to the young boys and the women to the girls.
When the boys turn 12-13 they would be sent in the rainforest by themselves for 5 to 8 weeks. The ones who did best would become the next leaders of the tribe.
The tribe has several clans (maybe 4 to 5 clans).
Bayan is the name of their little huts.
Once a year there would be a trade meeting between different tribes and they would prepare in advance to go there. (It would take weeks)
They would paint their bodies in a certain way to signify what tribes they belonged to. The trading meeting was also a way for people to learn other languages. Some of the elders knew 20-30 different languages.
The didgeridoo isn’t from the rainforest it’s from the dry lands and the Kuku Yulangi got it through trade. The Didgeridoo is made by termites. Women are not allowed to play it.
The Cassowaries love the blue prunes from the rainforest but they are very toxic to man.
If the young boys misbehaved or broke rules or caused troubles or disrespected the elders or went pass the borders of the land their punishment is that the elders would gather around them and throw their spears in their knees. The boys would then have to find the right plants etc to heal their wounds. It was like a test. People in the tribe knew not to help them in any way. You had to deal with the consequences of your behaviour by yourself.
During the stolen generation period the elders would paint the bodies of the young ones darker with coal. Because if you were dark skin the white people wouldn’t take you away.
The legend says that the world was made by the rainbow serpent. When he was finished he went to the Great bareer Reef which is where he now remains and is why their are so many colours in the reef.
The tribe would have 3 different areas of habitat a year: In the drylands when it was the rainy season, in the rainforest during winter and at the beach in summer.
Most important thing: take only what you need. Example when they fished the crabs they would only take one claw from the crab at the time. Then give it a chance to grow back…
Respect the land, respect the ancestors.
