The Journey of the Iilk, Story by Professor N’arwee’t Carolyn Briggs

Description

The months of February and March were known to the Boon Wurrung as Weegabil nye-wiiny or ‘Old man sun’.
…
Weegabil nye-wiiny was also known as the iilk season.
The illk began their long journey down Birrarang and the wurneet that ran into Nairm – now known as Port Phillip Bay…

This remarkable picture story book looks at the importance of the iilk or eel to the Boon Wurrung people, the traditional custodians of the country now known as the Mornington Peninsula.  The story describes the seasons as observed by the Boon Wurrung culture and how these intersect with the life cycle and migration journey of the iilk / eel.  The book outlines the importance of the iilk to the Boon Wurrung people and the customs and ceremonies built around the seasonal migration of the eels, including the making of traps, catching, preparing, eating and storing the eels, and the practices built in to ensure their harvesting of the iilk was sustainable for future seasons.

As with all the Balnarring Preschool / Carolyn Briggs collaborations, the production of this fourth story in the collection provided an opportunity for the preschool community to extend their learning in many areas including biology and ecology, while also continuing to increase their understanding of First Nations People, history and culture.