AUSTRALIA
White whale death at Mallacoota 'sad' sign of neglect of land and sea, First Nations people say ABC Eyre Peninsula / By Jodie Hamilton
Posted Thu 28 Jul 2022
Dwayne Bannon-Harrison during a whale ceremony on Yuin Country.(Supplied: Jim Klapsogiannis)
The sighting of a white whale is something magical, but its significance is much deeper than just a photo opportunity for Australia's First Nations people.
When a white whale carcass washed up at Mallacoota on Victoria's east coast this month, the impact of the whale's death rippled across Indigenous coastal communities nationwide.
First Nation people from Western Australia, eastern Australia, and the Northern Territory have reached out to South Australian Mirning elder Bunna Lawrie who said the death of the white whale heralded a time of change and an opportunity to raise awareness about custodianship of the environment.
Mr Lawrie said the Mallacoota whale death heralded a time of change.
"Things have been neglected in our collective duties and responsibilities to the land and sea," he said.
"It is a sign of sadness in our connection with these magnificent beings.
"The whale is family and we have responsibilities to celebrate its life, to bring it to rest, and to take its spirit back to the right place."
Whales significant to First Nations people
Victorian environmental authorities have said the Mallacoota whale was not an albino whale and had patches of colour under barnacle shells on it.
Victoria's Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning have said their current plan was to leave the whale in situ to decompose naturally.
Steve Tribbeck, the Indigenous liaison and producer of the documentary Whale Dreamer featuring Bunna Lawrie, said a white whale did not have to be albino.
Mr Tribbeck said whales and particularly white whales were significant to First Nations people.
Mirning Elder Bunna Lawrie (left) with Whale Dreamer producer Steve Tribbeck. (Supplied)
The traditional people of the Great Australian Bight and Nullarbor area, Mirning, describe how a white whale called Jeedara was responsible for creating and shaping the land, sea and the Mirning people.
Southern right whales, Eubalaena australis, annually migrate to the head of the Bight to give birth and nurse their young each winter.
The whale centre at the Bight this week reported there were 96 whales and calves in the area, including two rare white calves.
White calves have also been sighted at Fowlers Bay and Sleaford Bay, near Port Lincoln this season.
Mr Tribbeck said it was important First Nations people were notified when a whale washed up so they could fulfil their cultural responsibilities to help the whale reach its resting place.
"Direct consultation and notification of local indigenous people [should take place] so they can play out the traditional roles and responsibilities with regard to a whale washing up," Mr Tribbeck said.
The traditional people of the Great Australian Bight and Nullarbor area, Mirning, describe how a white whale called Jeedara was responsible for creating and shaping the land, sea and the Mirning people.
Southern right whales, Eubalaena australis, annually migrate to the head of the Bight to give birth and nurse their young each winter.
The whale centre at the Bight this week reported there were 96 whales and calves in the area, including two rare white calves.
White calves have also been sighted at Fowlers Bay and Sleaford Bay, near Port Lincoln this season.
Mr Tribbeck said it was important First Nations people were notified when a whale washed up so they could fulfil their cultural responsibilities to help the whale reach its resting place.
"Direct consultation and notification of local indigenous people [should take place] so they can play out the traditional roles and responsibilities with regard to a whale washing up," Mr Tribbeck said.
Returning to the land
Detail of a painting by Mirning elder Bunna Lawrie.
(Supplied: Detail of Bunna Lawrie painting)
Yuin Nation descendent Dwayne Bannon-Harrison said his grandfather taught him whale ceremonies and responsibilities, including learning from Bunna Lawrie at the Head of the Bight.
He said different nations had particular whale stories and the Yuin people believed the whale, as a warm-blooded animal, came from the land. It was an ancient healer and custodian of the old ways.
"The whale when it comes into the beach, beaches itself, is the whale giving, the laws of the sea country, back to land in order to keep that harmonious," Mr Bannon-Harrison said.
He said the Mallacoota area was a shared land of the Yuin and Gunai people and was a traditional trading place.
"That whale to come into that space is important for our people," he said.
Yuin Nation descendent Dwayne Bannon-Harrison said his grandfather taught him whale ceremonies and responsibilities, including learning from Bunna Lawrie at the Head of the Bight.
He said different nations had particular whale stories and the Yuin people believed the whale, as a warm-blooded animal, came from the land. It was an ancient healer and custodian of the old ways.
"The whale when it comes into the beach, beaches itself, is the whale giving, the laws of the sea country, back to land in order to keep that harmonious," Mr Bannon-Harrison said.
He said the Mallacoota area was a shared land of the Yuin and Gunai people and was a traditional trading place.
"That whale to come into that space is important for our people," he said.
Mr Bannon-Harrison and family members during a whale ceremony.
(Supplied: Jim Klapsogiannis)
Mr Bannon-Harrison said in the past, "there would be trade, and ceremony called and different mobs would come from different places in order to utilise that whale".
"The whale is a huge part of our responsibility culturally."
Mr Bannon-Harrison said in the past, "there would be trade, and ceremony called and different mobs would come from different places in order to utilise that whale".
"The whale is a huge part of our responsibility culturally."
Song nurtures health
Mr Tribbeck said the presence of the whale at Mallacoota was an opportunity to value the Indigenous perspective.
"We're dealing with complex ecosystems and we think we know it all but we don't," he said.
"A big part that we don't understand is the role that Indigenous people play in the unseen realms.
"The stories that they tell, the songs that they sing, the dances that they dance and how that fosters health within ecosystems."
Yolngu Nations Assembly president and Gumach whale representative from North East Arnhem Land Johnny Gurmumgurrum said the whale passing was very sacred.
"It brings people together to sing the songs, just like when a person passes," Mr Gurmumgurrum said.
"These songs are very important to us and represent a deep part of the role we play as Indigenous people in our custodian responsibilities to the land and sea, and all life within."
Link to ancestors
An Indigenous elder says whales carry songs and knowledge of ancestors.
(Supplied: Marianne Stockham)
White whales were also deeply significant to First Nations people in the south-west of Western Australia.
Wayne Wonitji Webb, a Pibulmun-Wadandi elder and traditional custodian said whales carried songs and knowledge of ancestors.
"They are knowledge keepers who pass understanding from the ancestors onto other whales also," Mr Webb said.
"[They pass the] knowledge of the critical role they play in the ecosystem and sacred stories in traditional creation mythologies."
The Victorian government has been contacted about their protocols regarding contacting Indigenous people when a whale washes up.
White whales were also deeply significant to First Nations people in the south-west of Western Australia.
Wayne Wonitji Webb, a Pibulmun-Wadandi elder and traditional custodian said whales carried songs and knowledge of ancestors.
"They are knowledge keepers who pass understanding from the ancestors onto other whales also," Mr Webb said.
"[They pass the] knowledge of the critical role they play in the ecosystem and sacred stories in traditional creation mythologies."
The Victorian government has been contacted about their protocols regarding contacting Indigenous people when a whale washes up.
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