Table 8 - Wiradjuri Names of Some Heavenly Bodies (after Howitt and Richards) Restored Wiradjuri Name Heavenly Body & Description budthul-bula 2 Magellanic Clouds (galaxies) buraay-dyilang Group of stars (children) around Orion’s Belt gibabang Group of stars proceeding Orion’s Belt gibagun Southern Cross gidyirrigaa Budgerigar, Small star in Argus gilaa Galah - Milky Way, also Calare or Lachlan River giralang Stars giwang The moon mulayndynang Pleiades, the Seven Sisters yiray The sun
Ceremonial and Cultural Practices Much was recorded between the 1870’s and the 1940’s about the ceremonial and cultural practices and spiritual knowledge of the Wiradjuri (87, 88,89,90,91). Most material refers to the burbong or male initiation ceremonies and rules (law), to “clever men” or “men of high degree” collectively referred to now as “men’s business”. This male emphasis results from the recorders being men who were more interested in these practices than in the daily domestic activities of women in Wiradjuri groups. Men were also not generally given access to “women’s business”. Out of respect and because access to much of this secret knowledge in traditional times was only available to the initiated (accidental or deliberate access by the uninitiated being severely punished, even by death) no details are given here. Whilst some details of this knowledge were given to recorders it seems that full access was NOT given. Even in story telling, those parts suitable to tell Wiradjuri children before initiation were passed on to the recorders but not the higher aspects. Some inaccurate information also appears to have been deliberately given to protect the knowledge. Some reasons why this knowledge was protected and continues to be protected and given only progressively over a lifetime to those worthy include: · · · · ·
Access to knowledge was the most valued aspect of culture Recipients needed to be assessed as being suitable and ready to receive the knowledge Knowledge was powerful and could be misused in the hands of some Too early or rapid an introduction to the knowledge may have created fear or disbelief in the recipient The whole system: ceremony, initiation and transfer of knowledge was based on faith, belief and trust in spiritual knowledge.
Since Contact Times, much of the system has been severely undermined by decimation of the Wiradjuri, mocking or disbelief in, or ignorance of it by Europeans. Ceremonial practices in Wiradjuri Country appear to have declined rapidly from the 1860’s and were virtually non-existent by 1900, (92) although some are known to have been carried out off missions, in secret. There is evidence that some traditional practices and stories had continued until at least the 1930’s and beyond. There are still remnants of this knowledge in the community today.
61