Emu Downs Wind & Solar Farm Moojar Trees.

Nuytsia floribunda Yued dreaming Nuytsia floribunda is a hemiparasitic In local Yued dreaming, stories passed plant found in Western Australia. down from ancestors shows why the The species is known locally by Yued Moojar is of such cultural and spiritual Noongars as the Christmas tree significance to Noongar people in the because it displays bright flowers during past, and still today. It serves as a the Christmas season. The Noongar marker for significant ceremony and names for the plant are moojar, burial sites. During lore time, when the moojerool, munjah and mutyal. tree is in flower, it shows in significant places around the country. Yued In bloom ancestors have always enforced that people show respect for the Moojar and For the Noongar people, Indigenous to protect the tree where possible. A Australians historically from southwest Yued legend associated with the Moojar Western Australia, December and is that when a Noongar person dies January is a season called Birak. It their spirit enters the tree where they is during this time the Moodjar tree wait for Birak. When the tree flowers, flowers bright orange. The vivid orange their spirit goes west to Kooranup flowers of the moodjar are traditionally (over the ocean) to be with their used to make a lightly alcoholic brew ancestors. During Birak, celebrations called mungitch. The sweet drink is are held on the seashores to honour the brewed over several days by soaking the spirits of the ancestors and celebrate flowers in fresh water and the drink is the continuation of cultural lore and used to celebrate the abundance traditions. of food traditionally on offer during By Margaret Drayton Birak. Birak is also lore time on Yued Boodja. It is that time of year when Noongar people host ceremony and celebration with other cultural groups along the coastline.