Badtjala Song
Artist
Gemma Cronin
Date2013
Object number00054541
NameSong
ClassificationsCeremonial artefact
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis song is from the Badtjala people of K'gari/Fraser Island as they viewed HMB ENDEAVOUR from the shore and followed the ship all the way from the Island's southern end. They passed on a rich description of the event through oral history and song.History"Gabrin Wuna'la yaneen, Areeram / Ngun'gu'ni wiinj gung'milung / Nyundal wun'yamba dhali dhak'kin'bah, Gebeer barine / Moomoo gumbi'llim bundi buree, Yauwa dhan man'ngur / Yuang yangu moomoo gumbir, Billi'ngunda / tin'gera dan'da gung'mungalum minya??"
('Strangers are travelling with a cloud, Areeram / It has fire inside, must be a bad water spirit. / It's stupid maybe? It's going directly to that rainbow serpent place, / This is the truth that I bring. / It is breathing smoke rhythmically from its rear, must be song men and sorcerers. / Coming up and going back with the wind at its rear, like a sand crab. / The sea carries this ship here, why??')SignificanceForms part of the East Coast Encounters exhibition. Extremely significant in giving an Indigenous voice of first contact.
