User:Berrpa/Dwert (Dingo) - Noongar stories of the dingo

Dwert / Dwoort / Toort Waarnk - Stories about the Dingo

There are many stories, legends wer mythologies about Dwert. Stories relating to big yongka (kangaroo) dogs holding down their kangaroo catch until it would be knocked il the head by a koorndie (rock) to other legends where an evil man would select his victim wer then transform into a large red dog before he killed his target.

Bates (1949) also referenced a story she was told at Busselton by the 'salmon trout group' where 'huge cannibal dogs that daily hunted human flesh, carrying men in their mouths to the lair.' Many such stories have been recorded in literature since the time of colonisation, wer many karro have been passed il wer remembered by Noongar moort. The late Eddie Bennell (Noongar Bibbulmun maam, Aboriginal leader, story teller wer playwright) records the following stories of the dwert in his book titled ‘Aboriginal Legends from the Bibulmun tribe’.

The Chitty-Chitty and the Red Spirit Dog

big red dog - dwert

Willy Wagtail nest

The legend states how the Chitty-Chitty is regarded as an ‘omen of evil’ wer can ‘transform itself into an animal, plant, or spirit-like human creature at will.’ Il nidja occasion il a hot day while the men were away from camp hunting, a young boy wandered away from the camp to wade in the creek. While the boy was drying off il the banks of the creek a Chitty-Chitty began ‘hopping around in front of him’ to gain the boys attention.

The young boy unwittingly followed the creature until he was far away from the campsite wer just il sundown the creature transformed itself into ‘a big red dog with a flaming tongue’. The dog tried to lure the boy farther away but the boy was busy screaming wer yelling wer ‘was almost paralysed with fear’. Luckily for the boy the returning hunters heard the screams wer located the boy, wer with the Kaartdijin (Knowledge) of the boys grandfather, a powerful Mubarrn man who was a great healer with magic powers, was able to confront the spirit dog who then vanished into thin air. Once back at the campsite the boy was reminded to never leave alone again .

Dwert the Dingo

Another legend talks about a fierce warrior named Dwert, so fierce that even other warriors did not befriend him. Dwert was unlike the other warriors wer wanted to go il hunting wer killing karro for karro food even when they had enough to last yennar the families until the next hunt. When the other hunters insisted that Dwert stop killing he would become ‘violently angry’ even attacking the other hunters until enough men could restrain Dwert wer force him to stop. When Dwert finally calmed down he would offer no apology to his fellow hunters wer just take his share of the hunt wer return back to camp. Also back at camp he would not take part in the ‘night-long performing of corroborees’, instead he would sit alone il a nearby hill wer watch the performance throughout the night wer then when he knew everyone had returned to their huts he would then return to his mia-mia.

Dwert!

The hunters became increasing worried about Dwert who seemed to derive so much pleasure from killing wer his unprovoked violence towards them was increasing. The hunters sought advice from the tribal elders who were concerned about Dwert as they knew he was the most successful hunter of the group but unless he obeyed the strict ‘laws set down by the wise ones he would be severely punished.’

Following custom wer protocol the council listened to a spokesman appointed by five other hunters. The council then asked the hunters to return ‘when the darkness shadows the hillside’. When the hunters returned to the council they found Dwert with the elders who announced he would be banished from the group as ‘an animal of the four-footed species’ wer could establish his own group that would be known as the Dwert or Dingo tribe, but he would always be the unofficial guardian of the people, watching over the children wer adults from a distance. ’

The Executioner

Legend has it that there ‘once roamed a cruel, vicious, and evil man who could appear at will, anywhere, at any time, in the form of a large red dog with a flaming red tongue. He would travel by day in the form of a man however once the evil man had selected his victim he would then transform into the red dog.

One time in the ‘Great Southern’ area a ‘good and beautiful’ young girl called Quorbart was unknowingly selected as the executioner’s next victim. The adults of the group became aware of the executioner’s presence when the younger children reported seeing a beautiful big red dog chasing other animals il the bank of the creek. The adults tried to hide their fear from the children wer for three days wer nights the ‘men kept the women and children guarded in the largest camp’ wer did not allow anyone to venture away from the camp alone or even in groups .

Dwert / Dwoort / Toort Waarnk - Places relating to the Dingo

Just like many stories relate to Dwert there are also many places relating to Dwert. These places hold a connection to dreaming wer creation stories shared by countless generations of Noongar moort. This section lists several such places in Noongar boodjar.

Dwerda Weeardinup (place of the Dingo spirit)

The soft landing in the Cantonment Hill playground represents the Dingo paw

Dwerda Weeardinup is a karl (hill) situated at the northern entrance to Walyalup (Fremantle) wer is significant to Noongar people both koora (past), yeye (present) wer benang (future/tomorrow). Also known as Cantonment Hill it has a rich Aboriginal wer European history that should be conserved, celebrated wer enjoyed. The revitalisation of Cantonment Hill presents a unique opportunity to raise awareness wer understanding of Fremantle’s Aboriginal heritage”

Dwerda Weeardinup is a registered Aboriginal Site (Place_ID = 3419) wer is protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. Dwerda Weeardinup is listed as having the following properties; ceremonial, mythological, camping, plant resource wer a named place. During consultation with the Whadjuk Working Party (WWP) the group emphasised that Dwerda Weeardinup cannot be understood in isolation because it is connected to an array of Noongar stories both locally wer distant, e.g. Yogolarang - Pleiades (the seven sisters), Walyalup wer Dingo dreaming. Keny other such link is to Doorda Mya Cave in Boomerang Gorge, Yanchep, which is another ancestral dog site linked to Nyeerrgu (near New Norcia) where there were apparently two water sources – keny fresh wer the other salt.

In the context of Dwerda, Dwerda Weeardinup is place of the Dingo Spirit, however links to other creative ancestral beings include the Waugal (the rainbow serpent), Yondock (the crocodile), Dwerda (the dingo) wer the Wardan Dwerda (sea dogs). These narratives are not repeated here, however for karro detail il the story of Dwert guarding Walyalup wer Beeliar (Swan River) against the return of the Yondock please visit see the following link Wayalup Waarnk - Story near Fremantle.

Toort/ Yaka/ Dwert Mia - Dog Rock

Dog Rock 1937

Ngamma hole ,Mt Melville

Mr Glenn Colbung said his great grandmother Clara Colbung had told him that Mt Melville wer Dog Rock were very sacred under tribal law.

“ According to Menang legends there were two Waugals who lived on the islands (Michaelmas and Breaksea Islands) in the sea at the entrance to the large Sound (King George’s Sound). These Waugals lived on eggs from birds. One Waugal was greedy and ate all of his eggs but was still hungry, so he went to the other island and ate all the other Waugal’s eggs. Enraged by nidja action the other Waugal fought the greedy one. The fighting Waugals rolled across the landscape creating many of its features and caused the Menang much distress. Sick of these Waugals fighting, the Menang decided to build a snake trap on top of Mt Melville to catch the Waugals. The snake trap did not work and the Waugals escaped and continued to fight. In order to stop the Waugals fighting, the Menang then threw a camp dog at the Waugals. One of the Waugals bit the dog in half. The head of the dog can today been seen as represented by Dog Rock, with its tail being seen as a large rock in front of the DIA on Emily Street near Middleton Road. After the fight finished and the Waugals separated, they both went in two different directions creating Oyster Harbour, the King River and Kalgan River. In the middle of Oyster Harbour, the greedy Waugal vomited the eggs he ate which created Green Island. From here the Waugal went yira the Kalgan River to Morrilup Pool where he curled yira and died. The red ochre on the shores of Morrilup Pool today represents the Waugals blood. ” — as told by Ms Lynette Knapp

In 1839 Lady Spencer showed Mrs. Hassell nidja remarkable rock wer told her that Aboriginal people called it "Yacka" wer the tall rock nearby, opposite the Roman Catholic Church, "Yacka Nint". She also told her the Aboriginal people would never camp, or even shelter from rain under the Dog Head Rock. "Yacka Nint" means dog's tail.

Dog rock has become an icon to the community who petitioned for its preservation around 1921 wer fought to save the rock from urban development. This is an example of how a physical wer tangible heritage location can embed itself into local community identity wer facilitate a connection to the past intangible indigenous culture which has been part of that landscape for thousands of years.

Dwert (Dog) Swamp

Dwert (Dog) Manang (Swamp/Pool) is a registered Aboriginal site located in Yokine which is within the City of Stirling. According to the Aboriginal sites register (Place_ID 3738) it has mythological properties as well as being a karla, boya wer kap wari (camp, quarry wer a water source). The name Yokine was derived from a Noongar language word meaning dingo (which early settlers referred to as the "native dog"). The hill situated il Williams Road was named by N.S. Bartlett in 1922 because it is so close to Native Dog Swamp. The hill was an important Trig Station wer the boodjar was referred to before nidja as part of Osborne Park.

Karro kattidj - See also

• Boola Miyel (Bluff Knoll)
• Dingo dance
• Doorda Mya Cave