#birak

The Noongar are Aboriginal Australian peoples who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia, from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast. These are the six seasons that meet with the areas natural flow.

BIRAK (DECEMBER — JANUARY)

Season of the Young

Birak marks the hot and dry season, when the warm days are cooled by the afternoon sea breezes. An abundance of food sources still remain including mammals, birds, reptiles, and yonga (kangaroo). The start of the season sees the vibrant flowering of Nuytsia Floribunda, also known as the Western Australian Christmas Tree.

BUNURU (FEBRUARY — MARCH)

Season of the Adolescence

Bunuru marks the hottest part of the year, when there is little to no rain. Jarrah and Marri trees are in full bloom, along with Zamia pods. Fish, crab and mussels are the main portion of the diet in this season, with tailer and mullet trapped in the shallow waters and easily caught, as well as marron and gilgies collected from the wetlands. Wattle, banksia blossom and various roots are popular food sources at this time.

DJERAN (APRIL — MAY)

Season of Adulthood

The season of Djeran brings with it cooler nights, light breezes and the presence of dew on the plants in the early mornings. Traditionally this was the time of year to nourish and prepare the body for the cold of Makuru. Fish is important food source, along with seeds and bulbs. Banksia flowers are out in bloom giving a food source for the birds and insects that rely on them.

MAKURU (JUNE — JULY)

Season of Fertility

Makuru is the season that brings the first heavy rains, and sees the Scarlett banksia in bloom. Fire is very important during this season, a useful resource for food preparation and production, tool and artefact production, hunting and driving game, and for warmth and signalling. Fattier red-meat animals such as the yonga (kangaroo) and weitj (emu) are hunted at this time of year.

DJILBA (AUGUST — SEPTEMBER)

Season of Conception

During this season the wattles come into full bloom, along with lemon myrtle, and this signals the start of the mass blooming in the south-west. Large birds nest to hatch their eggs and popular foods include yongas (kangaroos) and weitj (emu).

KAMBARANG (OCTOBER — NOVEMBER)

Season of Birth

This season marks the end of the rain, fewer cold fronts and warmer temperatures. The landscape is carpeted with a rainbow of wildflowers, including the vibrant flowering of the Kangaroo Paw. Kambarang is the season of plenty with an abundance of food available, including fruit, yams and gilgie (freshwater crayfish).

image source

Turns out that the people who've inhabited a land since mankind left the primordial cradle are like, heaps better at figuring out seasons than some white people who got here relatively 2 seconds ago (whoa, crazy). Here is a breakdown of the SIX seasons we have in Western Australia, specifically in the regions of the Noongar people.

BIRAK (December to January)

Season of the young

"It's a dry heat"

Fuck yeah, how good is summer?

BUNURU (February to March)

Season of the adolescence

HEAT. Humid. Disgusting. You consider making blood sacrifices for an afternoon sea breeze.

Getting pretty fucking sick and tired of this summer, actually.

DJERAN (April to May)

Season of adulthood

The sun calms its farm and it is safe to go outside again.

The trauma of Bunuru is healing and you might wanna get the doona out the cupboard.

MAKURU (June to July)

Season of fertility

GET READY TO GET WET

A moderate cold is made fucking freezing by architecture that was decidedly optimised to tackle heat.

DJILBA (August to September)

Season of conception

Statistically most likely to be declared "Melbourne weather" with a grab-bag of cold and warm and clear and raining days, but nights are always chilly.

"Oh my godddd flooweerrrrssss"

KAMBARANG (October to November)

Season of birth

The flowers are absolutely raging and times are sweet. But watch out for snakes.