The Dreaming

Series 04

STORY 2
How the Mopoke Came To Be
as told by Josie Boyle - WA

Watch the Magical story of love and duty between grandfather and his grandson

Synopsis:
Back in the dreamtime there lived an old man named Thummoo. Thummoo had a grandson named Burnurngee who lived with him and looked after him.

Thummoo was very fond of his grandson but was worried that one day he might leave him. So Thummoo thought he would try to trick Burnunrgee into staying with him forever.

One day Thummoo told his grandson that he was blind. Burnunrgee was shocked and told his grandfather that he will look after him.

Burnunrgee bought back two dingo pups for his grandfather from one of his hunting trips. One dingo pup had a black patch on his head and the other one was plain all over.

Burnunrgee asked his grandfather if he could have a pup. This was when Burnunrgee found out his grandfather was not blind at all because Thummoo told Burnunrgee that he could not have the pup with the black patch.

The old man knew he was now found out and the young boy threatened to leave him. Burnunrgee started walking away with his spear and the pups. Thummoo stood up and his hairs standing up grew into feathers turning him into a Mopoke Bird.

Now Thummoo could watch his grandson always from the trees.