Dreamtime Culture of Kakadu

With chalky red rocks, ochre roads, unchanged landscapes and a whole breadth of history, Kakadu retains a deeply rich Aboriginal culture. In fact, the Kakadu National Park is perhaps the most culturally rich area of Australia. 

The plains of Kakadu echo generations of stories told by the Bininj people. The rock art sites of Kakadu National Park are timestamped preservers of a whole generation.

The Indigenous people of Kakadu continue to carry on the traditional lives of their ancestors even today.

The Bininj People have lived here for over 65000 years – making it one of the oldest living cultures – not only in Australia, but in the world. They have complex belief systems about the formation of the land and how to live within the rhythm of the seasons. The people live according to six seasons.

Sacred land with spiritual importance

Kakadu is highly sacred, making it deeply important for those who live there. There is a deep connection which is ingrained in the land and its purpose.

How to be respectful when visiting Kakadu National Park

Exploring the culture of Kakadu should be done so with respect and kindness to the land and its people. When visiting Kakadu…

• Buy from independently owned businesses
• Take all of your rubbish with you
• Do not take anything. Even rocks, stones or parts of the natural environment should be left alone
• Be sure to learn the local customs.

Indigenous culture and stories from Kakadu

The families and clans of Kakadu all share a deep ownership of the land. The boundaries, rules and regulations have been passed on for generations. This is all sacred knowledge – like bush cooking, medicinal herbal uses and surviving in tune with extreme weather.

This passing on of knowledge and stories has meant that we can learn about the lifeforce of Kakadu, today. For example, the creation characters and the stories from Dreamtime. The rock art around Kakadu reveals the lifeforce of Kakadu with important characters, such as Namarrkon, and the Rainbow Serpent.

The Indigenous Stories from Kakadu and important characters in the Dreamtime Creation of Kakadu

Namarrkon and the Rainbow Serpent are two significant characters within the stories of Dreamtime creation.

Namarrkon

This important ancestor is responsible for the lightning storms (when you visit Kakadu and catch an electric storm, you’ll see just how dramatic this weather can be). The lightning tropical summers see some forceful storms!

The Namarrkon is an important figure in the creation of Dreamtime. He carries an axe, which is said to be the tool used for splitting the clouds. This separation of clouds then caused rain, thunder and lightning.

The Rainbow Serpent

The Rainbow Serpent is a feminine character who has an important role in the Indigenous Dreamtime creation story.

Kakadu has many different pockets of water (like Jim Jim Falls). The Dreamtime creation story tells the tale of how these waterways were formed, as the Rainbow Serpent was responsible for creating the water systems in these locations. She provided these so that the people could drink water and thrive.