Ganga and Julara

Artist: Lyndon Davis (Kabi Kabi)

Region: Sunshine Coast

About the artwork

Story of the Sea Eagle and Mullet Season

Traditionally our men followed the lore of nature, learning from our ancestors and following in their footsteps. We were great warriors and providers for our entire families. We were the custodians and caretakers of this great land and were strong and healthy. Living off the land we ate 100 per cent organic and seasonally and were of optimum health. Men when hunting would come together every day, share culture, men’s business and teach the younger generation of boys and men the ways of our people. Kabi Kabi Language name for the sea eagle is Ganga (pronounced gun-gaa). The young mullet fish is known as julara (pronounced Jul -u as in bull) this name is shared with the red stringy bark as they are connected in the dreaming/creation.

This old story talks about connections between plants and animals and our people’s connection to the land. When the red stringy bark starts to shed its bark, the Kabi Kabi knew the diamond scale sea mullet would be running. They travel from the southern cold waters and come up here each winter to warm waters to spawn. The sea eagle was first to see the mullet running. Ganga taught our men to start the hunt and we follow his lore. We designed our spears like his talon’s to easily pluck the fish from the water. And we imitated his hunting tactics, spearing fish from the water. It was lore to only hunt Julara (mullet) when Julara (red stringy bark) indicated it was the correct season. Lore states that when the mullet arrive in large numbers, the first fish passing are the leader fish showing the young juvenile fish the direction of warmer waters.

Ganga, the sea eagle would only ever hunt from the middle of the school of mullet. As the young Julara follow their elder fish, they are their leaders through the migration and therefore the lead fish gain immunity of being hunted. As Ganga will only hunt the younger juvenile fish, so do we, as we follow Ganga’s lore and never hunt the lead mullet fish and to only take from the pack what we needed. There also is another important indicator for mullet fish season that could give us a message to know how much or how big are the shoals of such as when there are large flocks of rainbow lorikeet arrive, we knew there would be a large school of Mullet arriving. The men would see these seasonal indicators and then watch for when the sea eagle starts the hunt of the juvenile mullet, only then do we enter the water spears and nets in hand ready for the hunt. This painting represents men coming together to share culture, time together and men’s business. Following the footprints of ancestors and the lore of land and teaching younger generations and providing for their family. Living off the land provides a rich diet and nutrients for good health – eat fresh, organic, seasonal foods.