This next story is about Umbarra the Black Duck, which is the totem of the Yuin nation.
Back in the old days, when the people used to live around here, a lad named Merriman had his totem called Umbarra the Black Duck. Umbarra warned Merriman everywhere he went of the danger. How he did it was he fluttered. The Black Duck fluttered and he dived down into the water and made splashes. When Merriman, the old man, saw that bird doing that, he knew that there was danger coming.
One day, all the tribe was out getting a feed of fish, bimbullas and djungas. Merriman spotted Umbarra and he was going off his head. He was diving in the water, splashing about, ruffling his feathers up and so Merriman knew there was some people coming.
He told all the people to get all the women and children. He put them in the canoes and he sent them out to the island, Merriman’s Island. All the women and children, and the Elders, went out there.
All the warriors were around the lakeside waiting for these other fellas. They were coming here to steal the women. The night came and those fellas came. They were sneaking up and, as they were getting nearer, the Black Duck he warned the people. When they came and tried to go to the island where all the people were, all the warriors on there kept them off from invading that land and taking the women.
That’s why we’re still here today, because Umbarra the Black Duck saved us.
This story presents the uniqueness of Aboriginal Spirituality and how the Aboriginals think. The Aboriginals created fascinating stories which explain the origin of a particular thing in the world, in this case, the origins of the people of the Yuin nation.
An aspect of religion displayed in the story is belief. There is a strong belief in the existence of a duck called Umbarra which saved the people of the land by warning them of danger. Another aspect would be sacred stories. This whole story is an example of a sacred story as it is special to the Yuin people.
This story made me feel indifferent. I do not believe this particular story is meant to stir any serious feelings. For me, it could perhaps give a feeling of interest or curiosity at best.
I believe the message of the story is the telling of how the Yuin people are still here today. It explains how Umbarra saved them from a raid of warriors.
cool
Yeet
patrick went to so much effort writing that
Really nice story thanks, was this originally a song?
It made me feel we can learn a lesson from Merriman, in the story he knew Umbarra the Black Duck would warn of danger. If we think animals are just for food then we eat the duck & loose the tribe, celebrate them & thank them spirit when it’s a life for your life & living. We need to look after the land, give Animals as much freedom as possible & they will continue to show us the best times to move & other stuff about the land.
This was epic dude i love this