Crossing the Dreaming Land

Ceremonial Arts from the Arnhem Land, Northern Australia

Banumbirr Poles Spirits

Banumbirr Morning Star pole is a sacred ceremonial object most exclusively created in the Aboriginal Yolngu communities along the North East Arnhem Land. Banumbirr plays an integral role in local ceremonies, especially those associated with mortuary rituals. It represents a complex set of narratives inherited by many clans of the Dhuwa Moiety across Arnhem Land. It serves to link different clans regarding the stories associated with the "Djankawu Sisters", creators of the Dhuwa moiety. Banumbirr represents the morning star Venus, where it is believed to be the resting place for the Dhuwa souls. Yolngu stories tell an old woman who releases and retracts Venus through strings each dusk and dawn and stores it in her basket during daytime. Morning star pole evolves into an art form to record this oral tradition. As a sacred object, the making of Banumbirr is strictly controlled within the clan and only the "grayed elder" or "the knowledgeable ones" are permitted to create them. The full scope of the stories depicted in Banumbirr is only revealed to certain members of the clan. The law of protecting the local bird species also results in the rare production of such poles for the general art market. Although the poles for art collectors are not considered spiritually equal to those used in ceremonies by aboriginals, sincere respect is still highly recommended when handling these objects.

Ceremonial Spears

Ceremonial spears are carved from Ironwood and painted elaborately with orchres. Tradtionally, only the elders in the kin system are allowed to create such objects. Some of the designs are believed to be used in the Dreamtime by ancestors such as the crocodile man and the moon man. They used these spears for hunting and fighting. Other designs are the symbols of staus and are carried during important meetings and ceremonies.