Gija creation story on display at UNESCO World Heritage site

Image: Senior Custodian Shirley Drill with the Jirraginy joo Goorrarndal – Frog and Brolga interactive display panel at Purnululu National Park. Credit: SharingStories.

The Frog and Brolga is a story from the Gija people of North West Australia whose Country now largely consists of the Purnululu National Park – or the Bungle Bungle Range. Their story tells of a permanent waterhole at Gawarre and examines how the local people view water and its role in their lives.

It’s an important Gija creation story shared by Senior Gija Custodian and Storyteller, Shirley Drill. 

‘The Frog and Brolga are creation ancestors for the Gija people who, through an event at Gawarre (Bungle Bungles), brought into being the Gija landscape, plants, animals and people.’

The Gija creation story called Jirraginy joo Goorrarndal is now a permanent interactive display on the UNESCO World Heritage site, Purnululu National Park in the East Kimberley.

The creation story was developed by students at Purnululu Aboriginal Independent Community School in collaboration with SharingStories Foundation.

‘We made the ‘Jirraginy joo Goorrarndal: Frog and Brolga’ panel so people can know it’s sacred ground here for us mob.

All us Gija mob want to know that visitors can be here the right way. We want them to know the stories for this place so they know the right way to be on this Country,’ said Shirley Drill.

The interactive display offers visitors the opportunity to experience the Gija story on the Country where it resides. It aims to deepens visitors’ cultural understanding of Gija people’s relationship with Country and culture as they travel through the National Park.

The panel features an interactive map of Gawarre (Bungle Bungles), with several short films describing the connection to, and cultural significance of Gija Country, as well as community members sharing personal feelings and reflections. Visitors can also view a Welcome to Country, artworks, and an animation of the creation story.

The Gija community has been working with SharingStories Foundation for more than a decade to share and transfer their cultural knowledge and protect cultural heritage through the recording and creative interpretation of the Frog and Brolga story into a multi-touch book, animated film and an interactive display panel at the Origins Gallery at Boola Bardip WA Museum.

The project recognises Gija custodianship over thousands of years and supports the sharing of First Nations stories and narratives to promote cross-cultural understanding and rich cultural tourism experiences.

This project aligns with Australia’s commitment to the principals of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages and is supported by the Office for the Arts’ Indigenous Languages and Arts program.

About SharingStories Foundation

The SharingStories Foundation works with Indigenous communities to preserve language, stories and cultural heritage through digital technologies and art forms.

Find out more

• View the online interactive experience of Jirraginy joo Goorrarndal: Frog and Brolga.
• Read about the Indigenous Languages and Arts program
• Read about the International Decade of Indigenous Languages
• Visit the SharingStories Foundation website