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Koori Mythology
Koori mythology represents the diverse spiritual traditions of the Aboriginal groups from Southeast Australia, including regions of New South Wales, Victoria, and parts of the Murray–Darling Basin. While the term “Koori” encompasses many different nations with their own languages and customs, their mythologies share deep connections to the land, ancestral spirits, and the Dreaming — a timeless spiritual era that continues to guide cultural identity and law.
Central to Koori mythology are the creation ancestors, powerful beings who shaped the mountains, rivers, forests, and coastlines of Southeast Australia. Their actions during the Dreaming established the patterns of life, ceremonial practices, moral laws, and kinship systems that remain essential in Koori culture. These spiritual beings are not distant gods but living presences embedded in the Country itself, visible through sacred landmarks, water sources, and animals that carry their spirit.
Among the many Dreaming figures across Koori regions, the Bunjil the Eagle (in many Victorian nations) is one of the most prominent creator beings. Bunjil is often described as the law-giver, protector, and architect of the land and its people. His counterpart, Waang the Crow, appears as a cultural teacher, communicator, or trickster depending on the nation. These ancestral beings teach respect, responsibility, and balance within community life.
Koori mythology also features sky beings and star stories. Constellations serve as seasonal guides, reminders of ancestral journeys, and moral lessons. The Emu in the Sky — formed from the dark patches of the Milky Way — is one of the region’s most iconic sky stories, teaching about hunting seasons, spiritual order, and the origins of life.
Waterways and coastlines are deeply sacred in Koori tradition. Rivers like the Murray and Yarra carry ancestral significance, while lakes, billabongs, and rock formations are seen as imprints of Dreaming events. Many stories warn of water spirits or guardians who protect sacred places, ensuring that these environments are treated with respect.
Ceremony, songs, dance, and visual art remain vital in preserving Koori mythology. Elders act as custodians of sacred knowledge, passing down Dreaming stories that reinforce identity and cultural continuity. Despite historical disruption through colonization, Koori cultural revival movements, language programs, and heritage protection efforts continue to strengthen traditional beliefs today.
Koori mythology remains a powerful, living framework — a reflection of ancestral wisdom, spiritual connection to Country, and the enduring resilience of Southeast Australia’s First Peoples.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=””]
Koori Mythology
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Koori Mythical Characters
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