Bunuba Country Kimberley Safari Experiences
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46,000 Years of history
Fitzroy Crossing
Fitzroy Crossing is located 400kms inland from Broome. Bunuba country is made up of 650,000 ha / 6,500 km2 and includes places such as Bandilngan (Windjana), Dimalurru (Tunnel creek) Danggu (Geikie gorge) Yuwulurru (Lennard gorge) Banjay (Sir John gorge) Bandaral Ngarri (Fitzroy River), Jijirrgi (Dimond Gorge), Miluwindi (King Leopold Ranges) Malaraba (the Erskine Range), Dawadiya (Trig Hill).
Bunuba
Bunuba Muwayi’s
Bunuba is the language that is spoken, and this language unites Bunuba people from different Muwayi’s or clan estates. A muwayi is an area, and it is also each Dawangarri who are responsible for it. Dawangarri and muwayi are inseparable.
Dawangarri are the groups of Traditional Owners who identify with a particular muwayi. When Bunuba people speak and name their muwayi as a people, they are also talking for the muwayi from which we come. Although Bunuba is made up of many muwayi, they are all interconnected through language and social kinship systems.
Danggu muwayi is the clan estate of Joe and Rene, it is who they are as a people. Since time immemorial, their ancestors have had responsibilities to Danggu – to manage, to protect, to maintain and to connect with Danggu. These responsibilities are to places and sites of ceremonial significance, and to the entire landscape.
It is the coming together of all Muwayi’s that makes for Bunuba Country. Our connection to Country was laid down in the Laws of ngarranggani, the creation time. Each hold an obligation to Country, and for all the human and non-human beings that belong to each muwayi. They have cared for this Country since time immemorial and continue to do so today. Whilst each of have an obligation to their Country.
Map depicting the Bunuba Native title determination area (purple shaded zone). covered by Kimberley pastoral leases
Map credits Kimberley Land Council
Bunuba Seasons
Kaluwan Aboriginal Guides have a rich cultural connection to the Fitzroy Valley, a remote outback part of the Kimberley region in Western Australia.
Kaluwan Safaris are available during the dry season, late Girinybali, Maurri and early Barrangga.
Girinybali
Mid February – mid April
After the big rains, country is alive and active. Baniy (goanna) are growing fat and ready to be hunted. It is the nyalalanggarra (male), who has been feeding on frogs, that we target at this time.i s when we start using winthali (fire) to look after and manage country.
Maurri
Mid April – July
As the afternoon sky lightens into biyi (shades of pink & purple), and the munbu (stratus clouds) streak across the sky, we know that cold weather has come. The milky way brightens as we burn thalngarri (Snappy Gum) which keeps us warm throughout the night. Maurri is the season for (bush turkey), one of the tastiest of our bush meats.
Barrangga
August – mid December
Barrangga is build up time. It is hot and humid, with thalangu (dust & storms), and walangu (gales) whipping across country. The hot weather signals a big shift for our reptiles as the jungurra (olive python) and walaganburu (rock python) wake up from their cold weather sleep. The flowering Bandiran (silver-leaf paperbark) tells us that the gayi (crocodile) are now laying their eggs.
Bulurru
Mid December – mid February
Bulurru is the time of the monsoon rains. Everything is green and it is the best time for hunting and harvest. The air is thick with the scent of barrala (shiny black spinifex wax), which we use for healing. The call of the yidiyidi (cicada) lets us know that it is time for ceremony to begin.
Personal service from your hosts Joe and Rene
Joe Ross
Joe Ross is the CEO of the not-for-profit Bunuba Cultural Conservation Institute (BCCI).
BCCI acts in the interests of the Bunuba community; preserving and advancing the traditions, laws, language and customs. BCCI are involved in conducting projects that address the wellbeing, economic, social and cultural aspirations of Bunuba people.
Joe spearheaded the development of economic capacity of Bunuba people through the preservation of culture and history and community connection.
Rene Dingo
Rene is a Bunuba Man who works in the alcohol or other drug (AOD) sector as an Aboriginal specialist.
Rene has extensive clinical experience and expertise in working with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal clients. As a Bunuba Man, he is a Traditional Owner within the Fitzroy Valley. As such, he has a thorough social and cultural connection with his people, the local Indigenous population, and the regional network of service providers.
Suggested Further Reading and Viewing
If you are interested in learning more about the Indigenous cultures of the Fitzroy Valley before the tour.
Here’s our list of relevant reading and viewing material.