Journey of the Iilk by Carolyn Briggs and Balnarring Preschool

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.

Our Story so far…

For the past decade Balnarring pre-school has recognised our roles and responsibilities towards reconciliation.  This commitment has supported our community to learn with First Peoples knowledges and stories. At Balnarring pre-school we intentionally embed First Peoples perspectives within all areas of our programs.  First Peoples knowledges and relationships have supported us to teach, care for each other, the Land, the creatures that live within our local environments, the bush and the sea, with new understandings.

These story collections demonstrate the respectful relationships that have developed between Carolyn Briggs Parbin-ata (Mother of earth/community), the teaching team, children and Balnarring pre-school community.  Carolyn challenges us to view relationships with First Peoples beyond reconciliation and develop mutual relationships based on reciprocity. We feel very privileged to be a part of this story.

About the Author…

Carolyn Briggs, Parbin-ata Boonwurrung is a Boon Wurrung senior Elder and is the chairperson and founder of the Boon Wurrung Foundation.

A descendent of the First Peoples of Melbourne, the Yaluk-ut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrun, she is the great-granddaughter of Louisa Briggs, a Boon Wurrung woman born near Melbourne in the 1830s.

Carolyn has been involved in developing and supporting opportunities for Indigenous youth and has been proactive in developing strategies for the promotion and maintenance of Boon Wurrung culture and heritage for over 40 years.

Carolyn is passionately committed to sharing the values and heritage of Melbourne’s First Peoples – the Boon Wurrung and believes that a sense of shared history of Melbourne is important in uniting the whole community.

Journey of the Iilk by Carolyn Briggs and Balnarring Preschool ISBN: 9780646706016