Barnumbirr (Morning Star) | |
---|---|
Yolngu creator-spirit | |
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]