Our Culture

Lalai, for Wunambal Gaambera people is our dreaming story and belief of the creation of Wunambal Gaambera Country by our Wanjina Wunggurr ancestors when the world was soft and why here is the only place on earth we call our home – our Uunguu.

Wanjina Wunggurr Law

It is important for us to follow our Law. We need to introduce ourselves in our language to the spirits of our ancestors before visiting a Wanjina Wunggurr place. Our culture is strong when we are living on our country  and teaching our children Wunambal Gaambera languages, Lalai stories and how to look after Country. We want visitors to respect our country and culture. Our Wanjina Wunggurr Law has been recognised as a value in the West Kimberley National Heritage listed place.

Lalai Story

Lalai is our dreaming story and belief of the creation of Wunambal Gaambera Country by our Wanjina and Wunggurr ancestors when the world was soft and why here is the only place in the world we can call home – our Uunguu. Our ancestors gave us our Law, customs and culture.  Saltwater Wanjina (Gayarra), like Ngamali and Jagulamarra, created the sea (wundaagu, Saltwater Country) and coast and put all the things there. Some Wunggurr (Creator Snakes) travelled and still live in the wundaagu and can be seen as waves, tides and currents.

Language

Wunambal and Gaambera are Australian Aboriginal languages traditionally spoken by Wunambal Gaambera people in the North Kimberley. Wunambal is spoken in the region between the Prince Regent River and the lower proportion of the King Edward River, and includes the Bonaparte Archipelago and the Mitchell Plateau. Wunambal and Gaambera are non-Pama-Nyungan languages belonging to the Wunambalic group of the Worrorran or North Kimberley language family.

Read more on our languages here or in our book, Uunguu Plants and Animals.

Seasonal Calendar

Uunguu seasonal calendar showing many food resources available in Wunambal Gaambera Country and major climatic indicators.

There are four major seasons as part of the seasonal cycle for Wunambal Gaambera Country; Wunju (wet season), Bandemanya (early dry season), Yurrma (cold season), Yuwala (build-up). 

The climate of Wunambal Gaambera Country is wet-dry monsoonal, characterised by uniformly high temperatures and solar radiation with distinctively seasonal rainfall.

Average monthly minimum and maximum temperatures range from 24 degs to 39 degs in October and from 12 degs to 33 degs in July. Frosts do not occur in the area, however, during the June-July period overnight minimum temperatures of less than 10 degs are not uncommon. 

Rainfall is markedly seasonal, the bulk of the annual average of 1000-1400mm occurring from November to April, with the Wunju season of January and February being the wettest months. Yurrma – the cooler months of May to September are virtually rain free. 

The dominant features of the climate are the annual period of aridity during each dry season and the uniformly high daytime temperatures.