Our Culture
LALAI, WANDJINA AND WOONGUDD
Country, the rules of living and all the stories come from Lalai.
“Lalai is the biggest story.” Donny ‘Yorna’ Woolagoodja.
Lalai is the creation and our governance. It is more than a set of beliefs; it is the foundation of our daily life and shapes who we are, how we belong and how we understand Country. Lalai is passed from generation to generation.
Woongudd, Wandjina, Geeyorn and all the other Lalai Creators worked together and made our Saltwater Country.
Lalai is the beginning and the end. It is our history of Wandjina and Woongudd creating Country.
Wandjina feature strongly in Lalai stories. They left their images as paintings in shelters to remind us of our history and culture. We have to visit then and keep our connection alive and healthy.
Woongudd are the essence of all living things including Wandjina, humans, animals and plants. Woongudd also refers to the creator Snake. Woongudd, along with other Lalai beings like the Crocodile and Jimbiddidj (rock cod) carved out waterways, lifted up Country and created the sea, islands and reefs. You can see what they made in boulders, rocky outcrops, rivers and gorges. Woongudd is powerful and potentially dangerous in whirlpools, waterholes and places like Garaan-ngaddim (Horizontal Falls).
Images of Wandjina and Woongudd appear in the caves and rock shelters where we live. Today, some community members paint the Wandjina as contemporary art to teach the world about Dambeemangaddee culture.
One of our Elders and a prolific artist, Donny ‘Yorna’ Woolagoodja produced a series of spectacular works for the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony in 2000. The huge paintings and designs – based on Dambeemangaddee art and culture – were a highlight of the ceremony watched by billions of people around the world.
Country and culture are not only important to Dambeemangaddee people but for people throughout Australia. In 2011 Dambeemangaddee Country, along with other West Kimberley Traditional Owners’ country, was included in Australia’s National Heritage List. Amongst other things, the listing recognises the importance of the land and the rich culture of the saltwater people.
Find out more about our culture at the Mowanjum Art Centre, or by purchasing one of our books; We Are Coming to See You or We’re Telling All of You.
