Tales From The Daly: ‘Nauiyu Nambiyu’
Steven McGregor | Australia 2010 | 20 min
In the Monsoon season savage storms lash the Daly River region, about 150 kms south of Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory.
According to legend it is the Sugar Glider traveling across the sky mischievously moving the clouds around, which brings the rain. But amidst the tropical beauty lies danger.
The Wabuymem is a little grey spirit that lives in the banyan tree, lying in wait for curious children. The spirit stalks the children and lures them away from their families into the tangled mass of the banyan tree, never to be seen again.
Wungung is one such boy who strays away from his grandparents while hunting. His fate is sealed when he disturbs the little grey spirit in the banyan tree.
Stories about the monsoons and the river have been told to children for generations, to teach them to have respect for the bush and to be wary of its dangers. The Wabuymem is one of these traditional Aboriginal stories, but set in present day Australia.
