Misplaced Pages

Yawkyawk

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Mythological creature
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources.
Find sources: "Yawkyawk" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2023)
Some of this article's listed sources may not be reliable. Please help improve this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed. (May 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
An editor has performed a search and found that sufficient sources exist to establish the subject's notability. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Yawkyawk" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
(Learn how and when to remove this message)

The Yawkyawk is a female creature originating in the mythology of the Kunwinjku people of Western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia.

It is also known as ngal-kunburriyaymi.

It is a creature similar to the typical mermaid in appearance, and has seaweed for hair. Seaweed that floats up to the water's surface is said, by Aboriginal people, to come from the head of a Yawkyawk.

While this creature's normal form has the upper body of a humanoid female, and the lower part of a fish, it is also capable of shapeshifting. Among its favoured forms are that of a crocodile, dragonfly, snake or swordfish.

Another power the Yawkyawk was believed to possess includes the ability to manipulate the weather, such as bringing nourishing rain, or sending storms on those who make them angry.

With the abilities these spirits possess, some people claim that they are the daughters and/or female counterparts (and thus wives) of the Rainbow Serpent Creator god, Ngalyod.

References

  1. Garde, Murray. "yawkyawk". Bininj Kunwok Online Dictionary. Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre. Retrieved 29 May 2019.


Stub icon

This article relating to a myth or legend from Australia is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

Categories: