The dreaming

Source: Shutterstock
What is The Dreaming?
The Dreaming refers to the time before time, or the time of creation. A person’s Dreaming is his or her sets of beliefs or spirituality or personal connection with the
these stories.

In the Dreaming, ancestor spirits came to earth and created the land, animals and people. These spirits also established relationships between individuals and groups, human and animal. Once this was done the spirits changed into animals, celestial bodies, geographic features or places.

The following Dreaming stories come from Central Arnhen Land, telling stories of love, loyalty, duty to country and Aboriginal custom and law.
Source: ATOM study guide
Where is Arnhem Land?
Source: Charles Darwin University
Whirlpool
​There is a sacred part of the river where the freshwater people never make a sound.
Mermaid story
​A songman goes wandering one day and later finds himself living with mermaids under a waterfall.
Brolga Song
Old Victor or Gamarrang is a song man.
Morning Star
​A camp has experienced its first death, so Mardiyhin must begin, the ceremony of birth, life and death.
Namorrodor
A shooting star crosses the night sky.
The Curse
​A story featuring the flesh-eating spirit, Namorrodor.
Moon Man
​Before it was in the sky, the moon was a man who was very proud of his sons, until they disrespected him.
The Be
Something mysterious has been scaring the camp.
Spear
A man makes a magic spear that causes the witchdoctor man to be jealous of him.
The Wagalak Sisters
The Wagalak Sisters once created the landscape, but their power was stolen when they weren’t paying attention.
The bat and the butterfly
A skilled young hunter performs a cowardly act by kidnapping a young woman and taking her away from the camp.
The Mimis
A young boy anxious to prove himself tries to go hunting in the evening.