Frank Shadforth shares an ancient Aboriginal creation story with two young girls participating in his Jarrdimba Bayamuku (Strengthening the Children) diversionary program in the Northern Territory. The program aims to support Aboriginal youth at risk of encountering the justice system.
You know how white man got that ‘cow jumped over the moon’? Well, Aborigine here got curlew and moon Dreaming. What happened is, the curlew had two babies, a boy and a girl, but he used to walk out at night,” Frank Shadforth says, standing at the headwaters of Seven Emu Creek in the Northern Territory ’s Gulf Country. He’s sharing the creation story of this sacred site with two Aboriginal girls in their early teens. “Moon was watching curlew, see. First night, curlew wouldn’t go far.
So, second night the moon come down closer. Curlew went out a bit further. Third night then, curlew went too far, and moon snuck down and grabbed those two babies. Babies screamed! And curlew raced back. Moon and curlew have big fight then. Curlew managed to grab the baby boy and then threw him in the thick grass. But the moon managed to grab the girl. Away he went! But he was so angry with curlew that he threw a big rock back at him. And that’s what happened here.” Shadforth gestures towards a rocky terrace, where a gentle stream of spring water flows. Below the spring, a wide, glassy pool is filled with native fish. The old man points out the archerfish, sooty grunter and bony bream to the girls. He mentions there’s a freshwater crocodile lurking somewhere among the reeds and water lilies near the opposite bank. Red earth and pandanus pines line the water’s edge. The girls listen closely.They are taking part in Shadforth’s Jarrdimba Bayamuku (Strengthening the Children) diversionary program. Bella*, 14, is staying at Seven Emu instead of spending time in one of the NT’s residential youth justice facilities, while an educator referred Alice*, 13, to the program. It is one of several initiatives designed to support Aboriginal young people at risk of repeat encounters with NT police and the youth justice syste
Youth Justice Community Programs Aboriginal Culture Creation Story Diversionary Program Youth Justice Northern Territory
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