By Kim Parnell –
What is the meaning behind the name, and where did the idea stem from?
Wang’ari means Dingo, deriving from our traditional Batjala (Butchulla) Mother tongue.
Wang’ari Dreaming Cultural Tours was named by a Senior Elder of the Batjala (Butchulla) people, in honour of the dreaming and songlines of our traditional Country.
K’Gari (Fraser Island) literally means ‘Paradise’ in the Batjala (Butchulla) Language and is home to the last pure breed dingos (Canis lupus dingos) in the world.
The dingoes have always lived side by side with us on K’Gari.
What kind of tours and experiences will be on offer?
We are excited to announce that we are partnering with Fraser Dingo to provide Wang’ari Dreaming Fraser Dingo Cultural Tours and will begin day tours of our Island paradise from 1 July 2020, in line with the government’s roadmap to COVID 19 recovery. Bookings can be made by visiting our website at www.wangaridreaming.com.au or Fraser Dingo.
Our Butchulla Guide, Marjah (See pictured) is extremely knowledgeable on the intricate biodiversity of K’Gari, as well as possessing inherent cultural knowledge that you won’t find anywhere else!
Marjah has just returned home to country after facilitating World-Class Cultural Experiences at Uluru in the Northern Territory, he brings his skills and knowledge of nearly a decade to provide you with a World Class Fraser Island Cultural Experience like no other!
We also have a range of Cultural Experiences that will be available to book from January 1 2020, which include Bush Tucker Cultural Cooking Classes, private Bush Tucker Tasting experiences, Cultural Presentations, Day Tours and Hiking, as well as private charter tours on our gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage Listed Country. Like our Facebook page or follow us on Instagram @wangaridreaming for information, updates, and developments!
Tell us a little about the Batjala (Butchulla) culture?
Our culture is a part of the oldest continuing culture in the world and has continually been passed down generation to generation since the time of the Dreaming.
Our Traditional land includes Kgari and extends to the Great Sandy Straits and the Islands in it, to the mainland and encompasses the wide bay area from the Gunalda ranges to the banks of the Burrum River, Our bordering neighbours are the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) people to the South, the Gurang Gurang to the North and the Wakka Wakka to the West.
Wang’ari Dreaming are the first 100% Aboriginal owned Tour experience Provider operating on K’gari (Fraser Island) and we are here to tell a story, of our people, our history, and our country. Let us show you K’gari like you’ve never seen it before!
Explain what a traditional Smoking Ceremony entails, and what the significance is?
A Smoking Ceremony is conducted to clear out bad spirits and energies that may have clung to a person and is a very important part of our culture. To welcome you to our country, we have to make sure that you are not carrying anything that doesn’t belong there.
A smoking ceremony brings in all the good spirits and sends away all the bad.
Name some of the native bush tucker available on Fraser Island?
Batjala people have always enjoyed a high protein diet, K’Gari has such an abundance of Omega 3 rich Seafood, swamp wallaby, goanna, freshwater reserves and rainforest fruits, roots and different nuts such as Bunya and Bauple (Macadamia). This combined with an in-depth understanding of the seasons and our environment provided us a paradise full of produce much like today’s supermarkets.
What else would you like the public to know?
Wangari Dreaming Cultural Tours is owned by a Senior Elder of the Batjala People, who has resided on and maintained an unbroken connection to his traditional country K’Gari (Fraser Island), all his life.
Following Traditional Law and Customs, he has passed on the ways of his people to his children and grandchildren and together they combine those inherent cultural knowledge’s and values with their vast collection of local area history to provide you with World Class Cultural Experiences of K’Gari (Fraser Island).
