Red Kangaroo Totem Among the Guinbrai People

The Guinbrai clan of the Gamilaraay Nation have a Songline of association with the red kangaroo. It has been an associated totem of the strongest and most wise men and women. Some of the most famous warriors and Elders of the clan were named Red Kangaroo. The most famous is Gumbo G’noor-ru – Red Kangaroo whose great feats have been sung over the generations from before the white man came to the land. Another famous warrior and Elder of the clan is Yawirawiri Murri G’noor-ru. His personal name was Yawirawiri. His moiety or skin name was Murri. He was born on traditional Country. He had to defend, guide and lead his people through the sad years of white settlement. He was a wise, clever and brave Warrior. The painting reflects some of these things. Two moiety divisions of the Clan are recognised. They define a person’s relationship to all other Aboriginal people, such as who you may or may not marry. The Guinbrai had the Night and the Day, or Light and Darkness moiety with associated totems, such as sun and moon/stars, eagle and owl etc. The moiety and totems appear in the painting. The carved trees have Songlines or stories to tell as well as what is told around the campfire, in initiation, lore and in song and dance. This artwork contains metallic and gloss paint._BR_ENCOD