The Wiradjuri people see a Dinawan (Emu) either running or sitting in this ancient giilang (story) in the Mulaa Wir (night sky).
It’s the dark patch between the Bilabang (milky way).
What the Dinawan (Emu) is doing tells them about what is happening on and in Ngurambang (country).
It notifies them about a change of season but also when emus are having their bubadyi (babies).
As summer is dying out and the colder months begin, Dinawan starts to turn its balang (head) around to country, and its booboo (tail) comes up from the south and spins around.
Around this time the Durrawan (currawong bird), the cold winter bird, turns up on country, and will begin singing his or her song, telling them that the season is changing.
Wiradjuri people sing a song of the Durrawan (Currawong) to the sky.
Songs aren’t always words.
It’s more important to make the sounds of the country, so that country knows they are here, and that they’re understanding and listening to country.
The change of season cues remind them that they need to change the way they heat their (traditional) house, change their clothing, and when to plant their next crops.
The Dinawan (emu) in the mulaa wir (night sky) also guides Wiradjuri people on when to collect Dinawan (emu) gabuga (eggs).
When the emu’s buyu (legs) are down, they perceive it as “mum’s still running”.
It means the time is right.
Very soon after that, with the way the planet rotates, the buyu (legs) will disappear and that is Dinawan (emu) sitting.
When that happens they don’t touch the eggs, because they’ll have become fertile.
As the mum is collecting food and keeping predators away Babin (male emu) sits on the nest for 60 to 70 days.
When the bubadyi (babies) are born, they’re attached to their dad, and he teaches them how to live.
The stars are also used to teach children important life lessons.
At bedtime when Wiradjuri children look up to the night sky, they’re warned about when to stay away from the Babin (male emu) and his gabuga (eggs) because he will tear them apart.
They can see the Gibia (man) chasing the Dinawan (emu), the Orion’s belt or saucepan is his warrior shield, but he never catches it.
This story is a reminder that calendars go in a circle and everything is connected — the sky, the land, the water, the people, their culture and the spiritual world.