The origins of our games
Extensive research has been undertaken to ensure that the sessions and required resources are as faithful as possible to the original games. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the games and activities that we use to educate and inspire others about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history. Traditionally, the games were designed to teach important life skills such as hand/eye coordination, aiming, agility and control but we also incorporate lessons of teamwork, communication, and leadership. Our traditional Aboriginal games include, but are not limited to:
Buroinjin
A ball game that was first played by the Kabi Kabi people of Southern Queensland but is now played competitively all over Victoria. It was played with a ball made of kangaroo skin, stuffed with grass and sewn with tendons. They called the ball a ‘buroinjin’.
Jumpinpin
Named after a South Queensland fishing hub that was a traditional meeting place for Aboriginal people on Stradbroke Island, ‘Jumpinpin’ was traditionally played to teach kids how to spear fish.
Puloga
Regular mock combat tournaments took place all over Australia within mobs. Puloga was essentially played as an entertainment activity, though the opportunity was taken to settle disputes, real or imaginary. It also gave the men in the tribes a chance to show off their prowess and courage before the women.
Edor
A chasing/tagging game that originated in the Aurukun Aboriginal community and is still frequently played today in North Queensland and the Torres Strait Islands. Edor is a word for ‘the running game’.
Marngrook
Marngrook was played by many Aboriginal groups in Victoria. The men and boys of tribes would assemble when the game was to be played. The ball was about the size of an orange made of possum skin, fur outwards. It was filled with pounded charcoal and tied tightly around with kangaroo sinew. It was sometimes also made of twine formed using the twisted hair of the possum. The ball was given to the ‘best’ player or someone of ‘note’ to start the game. The tallest and those who could jump the highest had the best chances in the game. It is believed that the game of Marngrook influenced the development of AFL, however evidence is not conclusive.
Noongar Wana
The young Noongar girls in Western Australia played this game. ‘Wana’ means digging stick in the Noongar language. The aim of the game was to hit a stick placed in the ground while the girl defended it with their wana (digging stick).
Puldjungi
In one area of Victoria the ball game Puldjungi was played. Two sides (nangkera) were chosen. The ball was thrown around and possession was kept as long as possible by members of one side and the team that kept it the longest was the winning team. Players who demonstrated their skill in keeping the puldjungi in the hands of their nangkera were given a priyinngi (headband) made of white swansdown and skin with white feathers fixed upright around it.
Wulijini
Is a hand hitting ball game played by the people of Bathurst Island in Northern Australia. The game was played with a zamia (cycas media) seed. Wulijini is the Tiwi word for play.
Kai
This game is from the Torres Strait Islands, players would stand in a circle and sing the kai wed (ball song) as they hit a ball up in the air with the palms of their hands. The game was played using the thick, oval, deep-red fruit of the kai tree, which is quite light when dry.
Weme
Is a stone bowling target game played by the Walbiri people of central Australia. One player would roll a stone which was used as a target by the second player. Weme means ‘’throwing” in the Eastern Arrernte Language.
