Buungbaa-ma-ndhu

Kirli Saunders centres Gundungurra language in this story of rising like the sun, with singing, dancing, dreaming, hunting and speaking in mother tongue, before the sun sets at dawn. Kirili shares gratitude for the teachings of Aunty Velma Mulcahy and Aunty Sharyn Halls. 

This story was originally commissioned by Fremantle Biennale and Ngununggula, and has been extended through the Dreamy series. 

Kirli Saunders (OAM) is a proud Gunai woman with Yuin, Dharawal, Gundungurra and Biripi ties. She is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist who works across a range of mediums spanning books, film, art, poetry and performance.

What is Dreamy?

A collection of mindful audio stories from the First Storytellers – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These stories bring an age-old practice of oral storytelling into the digital space, helping people slow down and connect to Country.

Kirli Saunders: 00:35

Buungbaa-ma-ndhu gubaabaa dyumbak yila-gudbaa waarrii. Rise as the sun, like smoke, to carry bad energy far away. Buungbaa-ma-ndhu gubaabaa gugarang ngunawau murruging. Rise as the sun like rainbow on the other side of thunderclap. Buungbaa-ma-ndhu gubaabaa magu dyiiwaa, gimbil dhuuriiguung nguubuu dyima. Rise as the sun like axe, digging stick, spear, between several strikes. Buungbaa-ma-ndhu gubaabaa, ganbii gunar, bunguun, burrumagang. Rise as the sun like light from fire.

Kirli Saunders: 02:30

Mountaintop. Thick vine for climbing. Whirlwind. gubaabaa marruwany buuma-ni-my darrambyang gadau warri-ma gabugang. Like diamond, python goes up tree hunting for eggs. gubaabaa Wumbulung yuungaa-ma-ny Gurrat nyinuwaang dhaura. Like yellowtail black cockatoo singing rain across country. Buungbaa-ma-ndhu gubaabaa buudyan. Rise like the bird people of the dreaming. Waga wuu bunga nirang yadung.

Kirli Saunders: 04:17

Dance and play and make many good. Yuugu gumuuang darlina, nyin wulu. Speak mother tongue, that one only. Yirradaringga-ma-ndhu yadung buurraanduu-dharrang. Dream pretty tomorrows. ngununggula wuu nyin muulii biimbiigang-dyaa guulaa-nyan. Walk and work together, and this beautiful dawn belongs to us. Muna nguunuu

Kirli Saunders: 05:58

Come here. Biidya-ma-ndhu gubaabaa bugaalii-ma dyirra, walwal. Go down as the sun like falling stars, falling water. Wanggirili murrumbidya. Mumbai gubaabaa guurruubang. Listen to Milky Way. Sleep like rocks. Buurraanduu guulaa-nyan buungbaa. Tomorrow, we rise like the sun.