Songlines on Screen: Wurray (ATOM Study Guide)

This ATOM study guide has been designed to assist you with classroom preparation in relation to the viewing of the short film Wurray. This film is one of eight films that have been made to record, celebrate and share precious historic and cultural information from Indigenous groups in remote western, northern and central Australia.

Wurray Synopsis:
This songline is from the Djambarrpuyngu clan nation, but it's also associated with other clan nations from the Yolngu Aboriginal people from north-east Arnhem Land in Australia. We call these songs mokuy, which means 'spirit' or 'spiritual being'. Wurray is about a spirit, a mokuy called Wurray. The film is based on the many great stories associated with this nomadic ancestral being and creator from the dreamtime.

There are a lot of stories about Wurray. He went on lots of great journeys and discovered so many things. He always starts at sunrise and ends at sunset. Wurray is a journey man and all Yolngu people identify with him. There's no whitefella story that's the equivalent of Wurray that is known about, except maybe The Odyssey.

Curriculum Links:
This film provides opportunities for learning activities in Year 7–10 English and Media Arts.