The Jawoyn calendar from the Katherine region in northern Australia has 5 seasons. The seasons are defined by weather patterns and environmental events, with the onset and duration of each season varying from year to year.
Jawoyn country covers 50,000 km² of the Top End of the Northern Territory.
Jawoyn seasonal calendar
Jiyowk
January to February
Jiyowk is the season of thunderstorms, heavy rain and flooding. Plants and animals thrive in the heat and humidity and the country is green and lush.
Plant and animal indicators
- The dark purple fruits of Yiwung (Black Currant Tree) and white fruits of Jurripa (bushweed) are very sweet.
- The Jaruk (Red Bush Apple) is soft when it's ready to eat.
- Belwarn (White Apple) fruits are ripe. The'yre washing down rivers and creeks and eaten by Giyowk (fish), Ngart (Short-necked Turtles) and Wurruyung (Northern Long-necked Turtles).
- Martappurru (Wild Pear) fruits are pale yellow-green when ripe.
- Wirk (Northern Brushtail Possums) are roasted on hot coals.
- Bangaynbangayn (Solanum echinatum) are sweet and good to eat. The outer skin of the ripe fruit splits and can be peeled off.
- Jujja (Mertens' Water Monitors) are found in creeks, rivers and billabongs. We roast them on hot coals.
- The red fruits of Duliyn (Erthroxylum ellipticum) are ready. Duliym wood burns well, even when wet. It's used for lighting fires during the wet season.
Bangkarrang
March to May
During Bangkarrang, the rain clouds disperse and the last storms of the wet season flatten the tall grass Marrk (Spear Grass). Floodwaters recede and the skies clear. Bamurra (Magpie Geese) are fat and ready to hunt.
Plant and animal indicators
- Yowok (northern Brown Bandicoots) are healthy bush tucker.
- The stalks of Bernteyn (Giant Speargrass) are chewed to release sweet juicy liquid.
- The ripe yellow-green fruits of Marlak (Kakadu Plum) are collected off the ground. Dark purple Makorlkorl (Ampelocissus) fruits are ready to eat.
- Nakertmi (Black Bream), Martpiyn (Barramundi) and Morropporl (Salmon Catfish) are good and healthy food.
- Jalwak (Bush Potatoes) are very tasty yams eaten raw.
- Dol'dol (Bush Cucumbers) are crisp and juicy. They grow in rocky places and are easy to find.
- When Yamijmi (Green Katydids) are seen, it's time to dig up Jampurl (Pencil Yam) and Yawk (Aerial Yam).
Malapparr
June to August
Our country needs the right fires Wurrk to stay healthy. Towards the end of Bangkarrang, fires are lit as the grass dries out. Garrkkayn (Black Kites) hunt around fires and can carry burning sticks in their claws to light fires elsewhere.
Malapparr is the coldest weather time with dry winds blowing from the south-east.
Plant and animal indicators
- Bark peels from the trunks of Bernbern (Northern Salmon Gum).
- Yellow Bamjon (Cotton Tree) flowers tell us that Goymarr (Freshwater Crocodiles) are carrying eggs.
- Bees are attracted to orange Martpa (Scarlet Gum) flowers. We follow the bees to find Wam (sugar bag).
- We eat ripe Warnwarn (Cluster Fig) fruits fresh or dried out on the tree.
- Morlalk (Bush Pumpkins) are dug up while we can still see the leves.
- Jutpurr (Bush Bananas) are better to eat before they reach full size.
- Durrk (Emu), Benuk (Bush Turkey), Guppu (Kangaroo) and Nakorik (Wallaby) are fat and ready to be hunted. Durrk eggs are healthy food.
- Gowarrang (Echidnas) are roasted on hot coals. The meat tastes like pork.
- Waterlillies are flowering and seeding. Marlkkurra (Sacred Lotus) seeds are good to eat. The stems of Ngawkngawk (Blue Lily) taste like celery.
- Nectar can be sucked from orange Gelpak (Silky Grevillea) flowers. Jotmo (Grewia retusifolia) fruits are sweet when brown and ripe.
Jungalk
September to November
Jungalk is the season of hot, dry weather. Creeks have stopped flowing and billabongs dry out. Thunderclouds build high in the sky.
Plant and animal indicators
- Nitmi (cicadas) sing in the rain. When they sing loudly, we know the rain is not far away and the country will be green again soon.
- When female Goymarr (Freshwater Crocodiles) see kapok bursting out of split Bamjon (Cotton Tree) fruits, they know their eggs have hatched and it's time to dig their babies out and carry them to water.
- Gurri (Blue-tongued Lizards) are easy to catch and good to eat. The roasted tail tastes like chicken.
- We use long sticks to dig up Warrunyung (Northern Long-necked Turtles) from the dry mud, and then cook them on hot coals.
- Jirrwiyuk (Plumed Whistling-ducks) gather around drying-up waterholes, making them easier to hunt.
- Larruk (Paperbarks) are flowering. The bark is very useful, we use it to wrap food for cooking and to make shelters and coolamons. The leaves are used in cooking to improve the flavour of meat.
Guran
December
During Guran the humidity increases, thunderstorms build, and rain begins to fall.
Plant and animal indicators
- Bemang (Frilled-neck Lizards) run from tree to tree during storms and tease the lightning.
- Gurumal (Green Plums) are healthy food. Ripe fruits are collected from the ground.
- We eat Bamkujji (Billygoat Plum) fruits when they are soft and ripe.
- Bunuwun (Arafura File Snakes) are hunted in creeks, springs and floodplains. We kill the by biting the neck near the head, and roast them in ground ovens. Barnkoy (Freshwater Mussels) are collected and eaten.
Acknowledgement
Permission to host the Jawoyn seasonal calendar is given by the Jawoyn Association on behalf of the Traditional Owners. The authority is given by Ms Lisa Mumbin, Chairperson, Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation.
Copyright
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