Learm more about this artwork

Our Website

Our website is a place for us to share our culture and passion for Country with you. It’s for our Mob, wherever you are, for learning and to keep connected as a community, sharing our challenges and belonging. It’s for our friends and colleagues to keep in touch, supporting and helping us in what we are doing. It’s for everyone else who is interested in us and our stories, our creative arts and love of Country. The following sections show you how to explore the website, and how to connect with us.

Navigating the site

Navigating the Site: It easy just click on the Menu to the left and start exploring! We encourage you to start with our Welcome to Country and then go from there. You can read on to find out more about what is on the website, and how to move around it using the Menu.

Learn More

Log in and connect with us

Log in and Connect with Us! Click here and Sign-in as a Friend to receive newsletters on line and updates. If you are one of the Arakwal Mob, or want to become a Colleague you can apply for access and then use the Log-In area of the Menu.

Learn More

Acknowledgements

Lots of effort and creativity have gone into developing this website so far. We would like to acknowledge those who have contributed their time and skills, and provided photos, written and digital material that you can see here. The website was developed by Sustainable Futures Australia (www.sustainablefutures.com.au)  for, and in liaison with the Arakwal People of Byron Bay.  Seed funding was provided by the Cape Byron Marine Park Authority (NSW Department of Fisheries) through the Aboriginal Parks Partnership Program, with additional funds provided by the Arakwal Aboriginal Corporation.

We acknowledge your input and effort, and thank you!

Learn More

Dolphin (Wajung)
Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) is an important totem for our people. Wajoong gives us messages about relationships between our clan members, to our ancestors and the past, and also to particular places and sites in our Country. We have stories of our people and dolphins communicating and connecting with each other, including co-operative fishing, sharing resources from the ocean, and playing in the shallows.
Sea Eagle (Miwing)
White Breasted Sea Eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster) is an important totem for us. Miwing gives us messages about clan and family groups, provides knowledge on hunting practices and environmental events on Country. The second largest raptor (bird of prey), you can see the majestic Miwing soaring above you as you walk along Tallow Beach or around the Cape.
Carpet Snake (Kabul)
Carpet Snake (Morelia spilota) as one of our key totems symbolises the relationship of clan members to each other, to our ancestors and the past, and to particular places or sites. Kabul are important to us for their conservation, wild resource and other cultural values.
Brush Turkey (Wollum)
Brush Turkey (Alectura lathami) is a messenger providing clues about and demonstrating knowledge and adaptability in knowing and using Country. Wollum lives and moves freely in the coastal bush, foraging through leaf litter for food to eat. The male builds large mounds out of vegetative material and uses it to incubate their eggs.
Pied Oystercatcher (language name?)
Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris) is an important bird to us because they provide messages about food sources and environmental events in Country. The Pied forages on the beaches and rocky shores, in mudflats of inlets, bays, ocean beaches, and on offshore islets.
Green Turtle (Bijahlin)
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) is an important messenger that provides knowledge of the sea Country. Biwing nests on north coast beaches including Tallow Beach and Lennox Heads to the south. Julian Rocks (Nguthungulli) supports significant populations of the Biwing and if you go snorkeling or diving there, you can have a close encounter with these graceful creatures.