Indigenous Seasonal Calendars (6 Seasons)

I remember being told once that Australia actually had six seasons and not four. Bush Seasons in fact!Which ends up being an over simplification. I thought that will be easy looking up and researching. However that would depend on which part of the country you actually lived. All of them having different interpretations of calendar revolving around weather patterns and when differing species of animals and fish were available to hunt or plant species were ready to harvest. I couldn’t find much for the southern and eastern states but I’m still looking.

Gulumoerrgin/Larrakia people from the Darwin region in the Northern Territory

Ngan’gikurunggurr (Ngan’gi), MalakMalak and Wagiman people from the Daly River region in the Northern Territory

Tiwi people from the Tiwi Islands, north of Darwin in the Northern Territory

Kunwinjku people from western Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory

Gooniyandi and Walmajarri people from the Fitzroy River area in the Kimberley region of Western Australia

Ngadju people from the Great Western Woodlands region in south-west Western Australia

Kundjeyhmi people from the Ngurrungurrudjba (Yellow Water) region in Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory.

South West Climate Example

Birak | December – January

Known as the season of fire and the young, Birak is very hot and dry. Burning of scrub was once done to encourage new shoots to grow.

Bunuru | February – March

Long days and short nights signify Bunuru,the hottest of the six seasons. Traditionally this was, and still is, a great time for living and fishing by the coast, rivers and estuaries.

Djeran | April – May

Djeran is marked by cooler nights, dewy mornings and when leaves fall to the ground. Ngari (salmon) are prolific.

Makuru | June – July

Makuru is the coldest season with rain, storms and long nights. There is good hunting of yongka (kangaroo), wetj (emu), kaarda (goanna),

koomal (possum) and kwenda (bandicoot).

Djilba | August – September

Djilba is a transitional time of the year, with some very cold and clear days combined with warmer, rainy and windy days. You’ll notice budding djet (flowers) and koola (emu plum) start to fruit. It’s also a great time to catch some djildjit(fish).

Kambarang | October – November

Kambarang sees longer and warmer days and less rain. The djet are in full bloom and plants used for mereny (food), medicine, crafts, tools, kaal (fire) and ceremony are collected.