| Barnumbirr (Morning Star) | |
|---|---|
Yolngu creator-spirit | |
 Map showing the geographical location of the Yolngu language group (Highlighted in green). | |
| Other names | Banumbirr, Morning Star |
| Affiliation | Creation, Death |
| Planet | Venus |
| Artefacts | Morning Star Pole |
| Gender | Female |
| Region | Arnhem Land, Australia |
| Ethnic group | Yolngu |
| Festivals | Morning Star Ceremony |
Barnumbirr, also known as Banumbirr or Morning Star, is a creator-spirit in the Yolngu culture of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia, who is identified as the planet Venus.[1][2] In Yolngu Dreaming mythology, she is believed to have guided the first humans, the Djanggawul sisters, to Australia.[3] After the Djanggawul sisters arrived safely near Yirrkala (at Yalangbara) in North East Arnhem Land, Barnumbirr flew across the land from east to west, creating a songline which named and created the animals, plants, and geographical features.[2][3]
Songlines were an important navigational tool for Aboriginal people.[4] The route that Barnumbirr flew above northern Australia became a songline that spans multiple language groups and was therefore useful for travelling Yolngu and their neighbours.[5][4] There is a growing body of research suggesting that this song-line through the Northern Territory/Western Australia and others tracing paths in NSW and Queensland have formed part of Australia’s network of motorways.[6][4][5]
Barnumbirr has a strong association with death in Yolngu culture.[2] The "Morning Star Ceremony" corresponds with the rising of Barnumbirr and is a time when living Yolngu, with the help of Barnumbirr and the "Morning Star Pole", can communicate with their ancestors on Bralgu (var. Baralku), their final resting place.[3][2]
- ^ Norris, Ray P.; Hamacher, Duane W. (2009). "The Astronomy of Aboriginal Australia". Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. 5 (S260): 39–47. arXiv:0906.0155. doi:10.1017/S1743921311002122. ISSN 1743-9213.
- ^ a b c d Norris, Ray P. (2016). "Dawes Review 5: Australian Aboriginal Astronomy and Navigation". Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia. 33: e039. arXiv:1607.02215. Bibcode:2016PASA...33...39N. doi:10.1017/pasa.2016.25. ISSN 1323-3580.
- ^ a b c Berndt, Ronald M. (Ronald Murray) (5 February 2015). Djanggawul : an aboriginal religious cult of north-eastern Arnhem Land. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-138-86198-5. OCLC 941876435.
- ^ a b c Fuller, Robert S. (6 April 2016). "How ancient Aboriginal star maps have shaped Australia's highway network". The Conversation. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ a b Harney, Bill; Norris, Ray (2014). "Song-lines and Navigation in Wardaman and Other Aboriginal Cultures". Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage. 17: 141–148.
- ^ Fuller, Robert; Trudgett, Michelle; Norris, Ray; Anderson, Michael (2014). "Starmaps and Travelling to Ceremonies: The Euahlayi People and their use of the night sky". Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage. 17 (2): 149–160. arXiv:1406.7456. doi:10.3724/SP.J.1440-2807.2014.02.02. S2CID 53403053.