Calling the Dolphins

 Aboriginal people have a relationship with all things around us and we utilised all the things available to us at any one time, including animals.  See, to us, the animals are the same as people, they are a part of who we are and the same as brothers and sisters. I think animals have feelings and are full of heart, just ask any dog trainer or horse trainer, they will certainly agree. The stories of my people will almost always include animals, as they are considered the same as the people living on this great earth. We have come to know each other intimately and lovingly, and have a need for each other that is almost greater than anything.

With this in mind, our people didn't think it wrong or strange to work together with their brothers and sisters the dolphins. This friendship unfortunately has not survived. I don't know when the last drive was but I bet it would have been both sad and rewarding.

Back then, the old families built friendships with some of the pods that cam close to our shores, a relationship built on trust.  This trust was maintained by both parties, and went back years with the same families (both Dolphin and Aboriginal).

Along the coast, just before or on winter's doorstep, the mullet would come from the south.  They would come in great numbers, forming huge black shapes in the water, moving and swaying with the currents and predators alike. We would watch them from the hills.

I don't know exactly how the relationship between our two families came about, all I can say is that it was based upon empathy, love and kindness. My family would call the dolphins in to help with the hunting of the mullet as well as other fish.

Once we could see the fish coming up and see the pods of Dolphins come up to we would walk or run to the beach and meet them.

All these photos are from the northern mainland next to Bribe Island near the fish trap and ochre fields.

The men would go to the rocks that came out of the point and stick there spears in the holes, when the tides were right, just enough to splash water as well as hitting the stone, the dolphins were there all ready, you could see them swimming in the water, it was just a signal to get ready.

Can you see the holes from these pictures

 See my people built large fish traps, our of stone, round dams in the bays, to keep a constant supply of fish close, as not to go to far to catch a feed, these traps had a long wing, to guide the fish in the trap. The noise of the spears was only to tell the dalpins the fish were ready, and close enough to be hurded in the trap. We were watching from the clifs near by. Watching the large black shapes, going up and down the bay,

I don't have any good photos of the fish traps yet key word, when Nev and I went there the water was dark, and not having much money the camera we used was not the best sorry about that, not to worry, we will get updated soon.

You can see the fish traps here, its underwater, but you can just see the outline.

Once all the families are together we would push the fish in to the fishtrap, the Aboriginal people in the shallow water while the Daliphins would stay in the deeper parts. This was great team work, and true friendship between parties.

Both families would eat to there fill in those days, our people would give the Daliphins there shear of the catch and there would be many fish close together in the trap it was easyer to catch the fish. This relationship lasted many generations.

We are still proud to call them our friends.