Makuru - Cold and wet time of the year June - July
Noongar words for Makuru
Maar - cloud
Maam marang - wind
Mereny - food
Moorditj - strong
Boya - rock
Djidi Djidi - Willie Wagtail
Makaru is the coldest and wettest time of the year. Traditionally, this was a good time of the year to move back inland from the coast as the winds turned to the west and south, bringing cold weather, rain and occasionally snow on the peaks of the Stirling and Porongurup Ranges.
Animals also provided the Noongar people with many other things. For example, 'Yongar' or kangaroos not only provided meat but also 'bookas' (animal skin cloaks that were used as the nights became much cooler). Nothing was left; even the bones and sinews were used in the manufacturing of bookas and for hunting tools such as spears.
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Makuru is also a time for a lot of animals to be pairing up in preparation for breeding. If you look carefully, you might now see pairs of 'Wardongs' (ravens) flying together.
Upon the lakes and rivers you'll also start to see the Black Swan or 'Mali' as they prepare to nest and breed. Swan moulted (lost their feathers) in June and are easy prey as they were unable to fly. Noongar women and children would drive the swimming birds across a lake or river to the men, who waited to catch the birds. |
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