Seasonal Changes and Traditional Owners

1. Seasonal Changes and Traditional Owners Year 2 Science Unit Good to Grow Lesson 8

2. The Ngugi Tribe of Mulgumpin The first European explorers to Moreton Bay discovered a tribe of about 200 indigenous people living on Moreton Island. They were the Ngugi tribe and called Moreton Island “Moorgumpin” meaning strange fish. The Ngugi tribe had a deep connection with nature and they would look for signs in nature to tell them of certain events that were about to take place such as the arrival of the mullet in Moreton Bay. Food resources Fish, shellfish, dugong, turtle and crustaceans formed a major portion of their diet, which was supplemented by bungwall fern, midyim berries, pandanus and honey. Their connection with the land and sea has a strong spiritual basis and some animals are strongly linked with traditions and customs. There are approximately 64 edible plant species found on Moreton Island. Some of the bush tucker found on Moreton Island is: Coastal Banksia: Flowers are large and laden with nectar and were soaked in water, then the liquid was drained which produced a sweet drink. Paperbark was soaked in this sweet drink and chewed like bubblegum. Blue Flax Lily: Raw berries eaten straight from plant and taste like green peas. Pandanus: Slender seeds eaten raw or cooked. White base of leaf edible after cooking. The raw fleshy part of the fruit should not be eaten as it contains harmful toxins. Other uses: Leaves used to make string, rope, dillybags, baskets. Logs tied together to make rafts Medicine Plants can have many uses apart from providing food. Plants and trees were also used for medical purposes such as: Goats Foot: Heated leaves placed on forehead for headaches, crushed leaves to treat marine stings e.g. bluebottle Lemon Tea Tree: Oils from crushed leaves were used to rub into bites from sandflies. Paperbark Tree: Soft inside fibres used as antiseptic bandages.

3. The Ngugi Tribe Shelter There are three different styles of structures commonly built by people of the islands. This depends upon the number of people to be housed, the weather conditions, how long they were staying in a particular place and how long before they might return. A small structure suitable for one person was called a gunyah and a large, semi-permanent home was made to accommodate approximately nine people. It would stand three metres across and 1.2 metres high. Fire Fire was extremely important to all people for light, warmth and cooking. Fires were started using sticks. The friction from spinning one stick onto another caused heat. Dry grass was added when it was hot enough and then the person would gently blow onto the grass to create a flame. Many years ago, when the fish were plentiful in the Bay, Aboriginal People would stand on the beach and click their spears calling to the Dolphins. The Dolphins would hear their calls and the clicking of their spears. The Dolphins would herd the fish to the shallows of the beach so the Aborigines could scoop the fish for the Dolphins to feed on.. Story by: Uncle Keith Borey of “Minjerribah” (Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island)

4. Traditional Messages and Early Calendars . • Long before they ever heard of the months of the year, the Ngugi had their own calendar marked by changes in the flora and fauna of Moreton Island. • The Ngugi looked after the waterways that affect the lives and future of the places that they were responsible for – the islands of Moreton Bay. The airways were very important too as they were the conveyors of the birds with their passage of flight. The eating of seeds and fruits from different areas helped to pollinate and cross pollinate the flowers and plant life in the Moreton Bay islands for regeneration of the seasons and cycles.

5. Early Calendars Seasonal cycles and changes indicated other changes were also about to happen. For example, when the gum trees and eucalyptus were in flower on the island, swarms of mountain parrot would fly over from the mainland to feast on the nuts and seeds from those trees and that would signal to the Ngugi that the sea mullet were running too – both things happened at the same time. The Ngugi always knew what happened in their seasonal calendar, and what changes signalled other events