Tjukurpa is an Aboriginal word, it is pronounced /'jook oor pah/. (Pronounce the syllables in English, the stressed syllable is marked). Tjukurpa has been translated to "Dreamtime".

Aboriginal people believe in a creation time - or Dreamtime - where ancestral beings emerged from beneath the earth. They resembled plants and animals but were part-human. These ancestors journeyed across the land and created everything that formed the world. They behaved as human beings - hunted, fought, and possessed feelings as love and hate. They  taught their descendants the sacred rituals and the symbols and designs used in body painting.

The ancestors were the law makers and from their deeds Aboriginal people learnt the correct way to behave and to live with each other.

As these mythical creatures tired of their life they disappeared under the earth again. Often these places are marked by rocky ourcrops and trees and so have special religious significance to Aboriginal people. To Aboriginal people Tukurpa - Dreamtime - means existence in the past, present and future.
 
 

The Boomerang that made Night and Day

In the beginning of time the world was lighted by the fire of Bila, the sun woman. On this fire Bila would cook her victims, the Euro-people. One day her dogs killed all of the Euro-people and dragged them back to her camp.

Greatly angered that their neighbours were killed, Kudna - the lizard-man, and Muda - the geckoman, decided to confront her and seek revenge.

As the two men approached Bila’s camp, she took up her boomerang to attack them, but she was too slow. Kudna threw one of his  boomerangs at her, causing her great damage. She then turned into a great ball of fire and disappeared. the world was plunged into darkness.

Terrified by the darkness, Kudna and Muda decided to throw their boomerangs into the sky to see if they could bring back the light. Kudna threw one of his boomerangs into the north sky, but no light appeared. Muda threw his to the south, and then into the west, but still no light. Kudna threw again, this time into the east sky. A great ball of fire appeared in the east, slowly rolling across the sky and settling in the west. Night and day were created.

Comments to: Niels Quist