Bunjil
Bunjil, often spelled Bundjil, is the creator god of the Kulin Nation, a group of five Indigenous Australian peoples. He is traditionally depicted as a wedge-tailed eaglehawk and believed to have originally lived on Earth before ascending to the heavens, where he watches over the land as a star. Bunjil's creation myths describe how he shaped the first humans from clay and taught them to sustain themselves and care for the earth. He is associated with important cultural values, including stewardship of the land, and his guidance is sought by those willing to listen. Bunjil's narratives stem from the Dreamtime, a mystical period when ancestral spirits and natural laws were established.
The Kulin Nation comprises tribes that formed an alliance, emphasizing their collective responsibility for the land, a duty they believe was bestowed upon them by Bunjil. His influence continues to be significant in contemporary culture, as demonstrated by the construction of Bunjil Place in 2017, a public facility in Melbourne designed to celebrate Indigenous culture and serve as a community hub. Through stories, art, and cultural activities, the spirit of Bunjil remains a vital part of life for the Kulin Nation and a means of connecting with their history and heritage.
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Subject Terms
Bunjil
Symbol: eagle, or eaglehawk
Culture: Kulin Nation, indigenous Australian
Overview
Bunjil, sometimes spelled Bundjil, is the creator god of the Kulin Nation, a group of five indigenous Australian peoples. The stories told about Bunjil say that he originally lived on the earth that he created, but later decided to reside in the heavens as a star watching over the land. Bunjil is often depicted as a wedge-tailed eaglehawk who uses this form to fly high above the earth and keep watch over the people and land. Traditionally, the people of the Kulin Nation believe that Bunjil will provide guidance to those who are willing to ask for it and listen.
In Mythology
According to the beliefs of Australia’s indigenous peoples, Bunjil lived before the era they call the Dreamtime. Dreamtime was a mystical period that existed outside of time when the world was formless. It was during Dreamtime that the ancestral spirits came into being and the laws of life were created. Bunjil was said to have two wives and one son, a rainbow named Binbeal or Bimbeal. He also has a brother, Pallian, who was put in charge of all the waterways on earth. Pallian was tasked with the streams, rivers, and billabongs, the Australian name for a type of pond that results when a river changes direction.
Bunjil first created the world and all its plant and animal life. Then he decided to create people. He collected a large mass of clay and split it into two piles. Bunjil shaped the clay into two human forms, adding long strands of gum tree bark for the hair. He then brought them to life by blowing air into their noses, mouths, and navels.
After Bunjil created a pair of male humans, Pallian began beating the water with his hands. He kept at it until the water began to take the shape of two females. Once the four new beings were given life, the brothers gave the men hunting spears and the women stout sticks. These sticks were used for digging yams and other roots that became an important part of the people’s diet. In this way, Bunjil gave humans life and the means to sustain themselves from the land. He also taught them how to care for the land and gave them charge over it. When this was done, Bunjil took on the form of an eagle.
After a time, Bunjil decided to take his family and move to the heavens. He called upon Bellin-Bellin, the musk crow that watched over the winds, and asked him to loosen the winds from the bags in which they were kept. He let out the wind a little at a time until there was enough to carry Bunjil and his family into the heavens where they became stars.
There are many other stories about Bunjil and how he interacted with the people that he created. Some of them are told in the form of parables, or stories that illustrate a moral or religious lesson. Others are told as if they are historical accounts of these interactions. For example, one story tells of a time of great chaos and distress among the Kulin Nation people. There was fighting between the tribes and family and personal responsibilities were not being met. The people stopped caring for the land and the animals that live on it. This made the sea angry and it threatened to flood the land. When the people sought help from Bunjil, he told them how they needed to improve in both their daily lives and their care of the earth. When they agreed to do as they were told, Bunjil raised his spear over the sea and ordered it back, saving the people from disaster.
Origins & Cults
The island nation of Australia is thought to have been uninhabited until between forty thousand and seventy thousand years ago. At that time, sea levels in some areas were much lower and land bridges existed between Australia and the continent of Asia. The first Australians are believed to have migrated over one of these land bridges and settled in Australia. They moved southward along the coastlines and mostly stayed near the ocean, which provided food and a way to travel.
One group of people settled near present-day Melbourne in southeastern Australia. Five tribes—the Boonwurrung, the Dja Dja Wurrung, the Taungurong, the Wathaurong, and the Woiwurrung—formed an alliance. They spoke a similar language and saw themselves as jointly responsible for caring for the land. They believed this responsibility had been given to them by Bunjil, who created the land and the people during the Dreamtime.
While many indigenous Australians now live fully integrated into Australian society, Bunjil remains an important part of life in the areas inhabited by the Kulin Nation. They tell the stories of Bunjil that were passed down through the generations as a way of explaining their culture and history. They keep the spirit of Bunjil alive in song and art and in other ways as well.
In 2017, a large multi-use public facility was built in the City of Casey near Melbourne. The 263,716-square foot (24,500-square meter) building was named Bunjil Place and houses facilities designed for cultural, artistic, and entertainment events. The building is designed to invoke the image of an eaglehawk with wings outstretched in flight. It recognizes the importance of the creator god Bunjil to the life and culture of the Kulin Nation. It is also meant to honor the role the indigenous peoples played in the history of Australia.
Bibliography
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Brown, Jenny. “Eaglehawk-Inspired Building Bunjil Place Wins Major Architecture Award.” Commercial Real Estate, 30 June 2018, www.commercialrealestate.com.au/news/eaglehawk-inspired-building-bunjil-place-wins-major-architecture-award/. Accessed 9 April 2019.
“Bunjil Place.” Arch Daily, 8 July 2018, www.archdaily.com/897651/bunjil-place-fjmt. Accessed 9 April 2019.
“Bunjil the Creator.” Bunjil Place, www.bunjilplace.com.au/bunjil. Accessed 9 April 2019.
“Evidence of First Peoples.” National Museum of Australia, www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/evidence-of-first-peoples. Accessed 9 April 2019.
“The Legend of Bunjil.” Bungaree History Walk, www.bungareehistorywalk.com/the-legend-of-bunjil.html. Accessed 9 April 2019.
Nicola, Ilona. “The Power of Storytelling.” Onya Magazine, 6 Aug. 2012, www.onyamagazine.com/australian-affairs/history/the-power-of-story-telling/. Accessed 9 April 2019.