Barnumbirr
Barnumbirr, also known as Banumbirr or Morning Star, is a creator-spirit in the Yolngu culture of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia, who is identified as the planet Venus. In Yolngu Dreaming mythology, she is believed to have guided the first humans, the Djanggawul sisters, to Australia. After the Djanggawul sisters arrived safely near Yirrkala (at Yalangbara) in North East Arnhem Land, Barnumbirr flew across the land from east to west, creating a songline which named and created the animals, plants, and geographical features.
| Barnumbirr (Morning Star) | |
|---|---|
Yolngu creator-spirit | |
Map showing the geographical location of the Yolngu language group (Highlighted in green). | |
| Other names | Banumbirr, Morning Star |
| Affiliation | Creation, Death |
| Planet | Venus |
| Artefacts | Morning Star Pole |
| Gender | Female |
| Region | Arnhem Land, Australia |
| Ethnic group | Yolngu |
| Festivals | Morning Star Ceremony |
Songlines were an important navigational tool for Aboriginal people. The route that Barnumbirr flew above northern Australia became a songline that spans multiple language groups and was therefore useful for travelling Yolngu and their neighbours. There is a growing body of research suggesting that this song-line through the Northern Territory/Western Australia and others tracing paths in NSW and Queensland have formed part of Australia’s network of motorways.
Barnumbirr has a strong association with death in Yolngu culture. The "Morning Star Ceremony" corresponds with the rising of Barnumbirr and is a time when living Yolngu, with the help of Barnumbirr and the "Morning Star Pole", can communicate with their ancestors on Bralgu (var. Baralku), their final resting place.