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{{short description |Deity of the Noongar people}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox deity
|type = Australian
|name = Wagyl
|deity_of = Giver of life, or sustenance for life, to the people who are the custodians of its land
|member_of =
|image = Bibbulmun Track Markings.jpg
|alt = <!-- for alternate text of the title image per [[WP:ALT]] -->
|caption = A track marker from the Bibbulmun Track featuring a symbol of the Wagyl
|other_names = {{hlist
|Waugal
|Waagal
}}
|hiero =
|avatar_birth =
|avatar_end =
|script_name =
|script =
|affiliation = <!-- or | associate = -->
|cult_center = <!-- or | cult_centre = -->
|abode = <!-- or | abodes = -->
|weapon = <!-- or | weapons = -->
|battles =
|artifacts = <!-- or | artefacts = -->
|animals =
|symbol = <!-- or | symbols = -->
|adherents =
|height =
|age =
|tree =
|day =
|color = <!-- or | colour = -->
|number =
|consort = <!-- or | consorts = -->
|parents =
|siblings =
|offspring = <!-- or | children = -->
|predecessor =
|successor =
|army =
|mount =
|texts =
|gender = {{hlist
|Male
|Female
}}
|Greek_equivalent =
|Roman_equivalent =
|Etruscan_equivalent =
|Christian_equivalent =
|Islamic_equivalent =
|Slavic_equivalent =
|Hinduism_equivalent =
|Canaanite_equivalent =
|Indo-european_equivalent =
|Maya_equivalent =
|Aztec_equivalent =
|equivalent1_type = Australian Aboriginal
|equivalent1 = [[Rainbow Serpent]]
|equivalent2_type =
|equivalent2 =
|equivalent3_type =
|equivalent3 =
|equivalent4_type =
|equivalent4 =
|equivalent5_type =
|equivalent5 =
|region = Southwest Western Australia
|ethnic_group = [[Noongar]]
|festivals =
}}
The '''Wagyl''' (also written '''Waugal''', '''Waagal''', and variants) is the [[Noongar]] manifestation of the [[Rainbow Serpent]] in [[Australian Aboriginal mythology]], from the culture based around the south-west of [[Western Australia]]. The Noongar describe the Wagyl as a snakelike [[Dreamtime (mythology)|Dreaming]] creature responsible for the creation of the [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan]] and [[Canning River (Western Australia)|Canning]] rivers and other waterways and landforms around present day [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]] and the south-west of Western Australia.
The Wagyl stories may represent the survival in [[oral tradition]] of extinct [[Australian megafauna]], as there was a [[Pythonidae|python]]-like snake, ''[[Wonambi naracoortensis]]'', with a length of {{convert|5|to|6|m|spell=in}}.<ref name="abc">{{cite web
|url=http://www.abc.net.au/science/ozfossil/megafauna/fauna/fauna.htm
|title=The Age of the Megafauna: The Beasts
|date=2008
|website=ABC Science Online
|access-date=2018-12-06
|df=dmy-all
}}</ref>
== Name ==
Due to the [[Noongar language]] having several dialects, the Wagyl is referred to by different groups by different names. Varieties include Waugal, Waagal, Wargyl, Waakal, Waakle, Woggal, Wogal, Waagle, Warrgul and Warkal. In the [[Wiilman language|Wiilman Noongar]] dialect, the Wagyl is called the '''Ngunnunguddy Gnuditj''' (meaning 'hairy-faced snake').<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Sandra |first=Harben |title=NYUNGAR STORIES ABOUT THE WAAKAL |url=https://www.noongarculture.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/WAAKAL.pdf}}</ref>
[[File:Wagyl.jpg|thumb|A sign depicting the Wagyl at Kings Park, Perth]]
==
[[File:Wagyl Perth Zoo.jpg|thumb|Information on the Wagyl at [[Perth Zoo]]]]
In Noongar mythology, stories about the Wagyl vary among the 14 different Noongar groups. Some groups state that the Wagyl is the ruler of the [[Earth]] and [[sky]], and that it inhabits water sources. In contrast, others say it is simply the creator and maintainer of fresh water sources. However, in all Noongar groups it is a central figure and responsible for giving life or sustenance for life to the people who are the custodians of its land.<ref name=":0" />
The Wagyl is responsible for shaping and creating the [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]], creating the sharp bends at [[Belmont, Western Australia|Belmont]] and [[Maylands, Western Australia|Maylands]], as well as the [[Canning River|Canning River]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Australian |first=c=AU; o=Government of Western Australia; ou=Department of Culture and the Arts;ou=State Library of Western |title=The Waugul |url=https://webarchive.slwa.wa.gov.au/swan_river/community_icon/waugal.html |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=webarchive.slwa.wa.gov.au |language=en}}</ref> When it reached the area around [[Fremantle]], it fought with a crocodile and used its tail to separate the salt and fresh water of the ocean and river from each other.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=4 June 2021 |title=Things will be a bit different this Sir Doug Nicholls Round |url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/951830/things-will-be-a-bit-different-this-sir-doug-nicholls-round}}</ref> The Wagyl is also said to have rested at the base of [[Mount Eliza (Western Australia)|Mount Eliza]] in Perth, which is seen as a sacred site.<ref name=":0" /> The Wagyl also has significant connection to the [[Vasse-Wonnerup Estuary|Busselton wetlands]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aboriginal heritage assessment of ID:38904 (Busselton Wetlands) - WA DPLH - Citizen Space |url=https://consultation.dplh.wa.gov.au/heritage/busselton-wetlands/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=consultation.dplh.wa.gov.au}}</ref>
The Wagyl created many local landscape features between the [[Porongurup National Park|Porongarups]] and off the coast of [[Fremantle]].<ref name="swa18">{{cite web |date=2018 |title=Spirituality: The Waugal or Great Serpent-like Dreamtime Spirit |url=https://www.noongarculture.org.au/spirituality/ |access-date=2018-12-06 |website=South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council}}</ref><ref name="slwa10">{{cite web |date=2010-11-23 |title=Swan River Stories: The Waugal |url=http://cms.slwa.wa.gov.au/swan_river/community_icon/waugal |access-date=2018-12-06 |website=State Library of Western Australia}}</ref> Indeed, Porongarup means 'spirit gathering place', from the [[Noongar language|Noongar]] {{lang-nys |Borong |lit=Spirit |label=none}}, {{lang-nys |Gar |lit=Gathering |label=none}} and {{lang-nys |Up |lit=Place |label=none}}. The Wagyl was delegated to protect the rivers, lakes, springs and the wildlife, and Wagyl [[sacred site]]s tend to be natural [[wikt:suntrap|sun-traps]], located beside bodies of water. The Noongar people were appointed by the Wagyl as the guardians of the land,<ref name="swa18" /><ref name="ber93">{{cite journal |last=Van den Berg |first=Rosemary |date=1993 |editor1-last=Brewster |editor1-first=Anne |editor2-last=Campbell |editor2-first=Marion |editor3-last=McGuire |editor3-first=Ann |editor4-last=Trees |editor4-first=Kathryn |title=Changing Years |url=http://wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au/ReadingRoom/litserv/SPAN/37/Rosemary.html |journal=Journal of the South Pacific Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies |volume=37 |access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref> and the Wagyl was seen by certain tribal elders who spoke to the dreamtime being.
The [[Darling Scarp]] is said to represent the body of the Wagyl, which meandered over the land creating the curves and contours of the hills and gullies. The being is strongly associated with rivers, lakes like [[Lake Monger, Western Australia|Lake Monger]], and is supposed still to reside deep beneath springs. As the Wagyl slithered over the land, his track shaped the sand dunes, his body scoured out the course of the rivers; where he occasionally stopped for a rest, he created bays and lakes. Piles of rocks are said to be his droppings, and such sites are considered sacred. As he moved, his scales scraped off and became the forests and woodlands of the region.
During a serious drought, Noongar elders ventured to the coast of the [[Indian Ocean]] to pray to the Wagyl to end the drought. The Wagyl then came out of the ocean and created the [[Peel-Harvey Estuarine System|Peel inlet]] where she gave birth to her young.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cloud House presentation for the World Architecture Festival Awards |url=https://www.neilcowniearchitect.com.au/cloud-house-presentation-world-architecture-festival-awards/}}</ref> After they matured, they went east from the inlet and formed the [[Serpentine River (Western Australia)|Serpentine]], [[Murray River (Western Australia)|Murray]] and [[Harvey River|Harvey rivers]]. However the Wagyl went out to look for her young and created [[Lake Clifton, Western Australia|Lake Clifton]] and Lake Preston. Thinking they went south, it ventured south and created the flat land around the [[Leschenault Estuary]] at [[Australind, Western Australia|Australind]]. Meanwhile, the young eventually starved and eventually dissolved into water and resupplied underground water reservoirs. This then ended the drought.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Joe |first=Walley |title=Indigenous Creation Story |url=https://mandurah.wa.gov.au/-/media/files/com/downloads/explore/museum/fact-sheets/indigenous-creation-story.pdf}}</ref>
Due to its deep association with the water, it is said that when the water is murky and dark the Wagyl was swimming and that one shouldn't swim in that water.<ref name=":0" />
=== Specific variations ===
[[File:Noongar regions map.svg|thumb|Lands of the Noongar people]]
==== Ballardong people ====
The [[Ballardong|Ballardong people]] also believes the Wagyl as the creator of the rivers, lakes and swamps around [[York]], where it travelled along the [[Avon River (Western Australia)|Avon River]] to [[Guildford, Western Australia|Guildford]].<ref name=":0" />
In the Dreamtime story of Wave Rock, the Ballardong people believe that the Wagyl shaped the rock's formation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-20 |title=Elder slams partygoers for 'disrespecting' 2.7-billion-year-old sacred rock |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-21/wave-rock-weekender-festival-slammed-by-aboriginal-elder/103060558 |access-date=2023-12-01}}</ref>
==== Mooro people ====
In the [[Mooro|Mooro clan]]'s Karda myth, the Wagyl prevents Crocodile from entering the Swan River after his tail was torn off by Shark, which eventually formed [[Rottnest Island|Rottnest]] and [[Garden Island (Western Australia)|Garden Island]]. Following this, Crocodile was told by the Wagyl to go back to [[Two Rocks]] and talk with {{lang|nys|Yonga}} (kangeroo) and {{lang|nus|Bibyur}} (scrub turkey).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=City of Joondalup |url=https://www.joondalup.wa.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Joondalup-Mooro-Boodjar.pdf |access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
In the Charnok Woman myth, the Charnok Woman collects spirit children following the path created by the Wagyl across a valley created by the Wagyl and is known as the Swan River. The path led her north to where the Wagyl was creating lakes.<ref name=":3" />
In the Mooro myth of two lost boys, two boys were brought to [[Mindarie, Western Australia|Mindarrie]] by two tribal elders to learn the law. After the elders went out to hunt, the boys ventured off to discover what had caused a loud noise, only to find the Indian Ocean. Thirsty, they drank from the water to find it was salty. Figuring the water further out was sweeter, they ventured out into the water to only be swallowed up by the Wagyl. The Wagyl then ventured back to the coast where it spat the boys out as two [[Eucalyptus gomphocephala|tuart trees]].<ref name=":3" />
==== Wiilman people ====
For the [[Wiilman|Wiilman people]], the Wagyl travelled from the north to [[Collie, Western Australia|Collie]], where it created hills and rivers along the way. It then went to [[Bunbury, Western Australia|Bunbury]] and Australind where it formed the Leschenault Estuary. It then came back to Collie via the Collie river to Minninup pool. He then gave to the Wiilman people law and language before the Wiilmans danced and sang for the Wagyl as a farewell. The Wagyl then went back to Minninup pool which is its resting place to the Wiilman people. They also believe that if its resting place is harmed, all the water in the world would dry up.<ref name=":0" />
=== Post-European settlement ===
One of the earliest description of the Wagyl by European settlers was by Francis Armstrong of the [[Perth Gazette]] in 1836, where he described stones believed by the Noongars to be eggs of the Wagyl.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Konishi |first=Shino |date=2021-10-28 |title=Friday essay: creation, destruction and appropriation – the powerful symbolism of the Rainbow Serpent |url=http://theconversation.com/friday-essay-creation-destruction-and-appropriation-the-powerful-symbolism-of-the-rainbow-serpent-169934 |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}}</ref>
When the Government of Western Australia wanted to redevelop land around the [[Swan Brewery|Old Swan Brewery]] in the 1980s, conflicting attitudes around the Wagyl arose. The area is known as {{lang|nys|Goonininup}} in Noongar, and is seen in some stories as a resting point of the Wagyl.<ref name=":4" />
== Characteristics ==
The Wagyl is often characterised as being green and smokish grey in colour, while also blending into the ocean. It is also characterised as being either female or male.<ref name=":2" /> Like the Rainbow serpent, it is depicted as a snake or serpent.{{wide image|Darling Scarp from Kings Park looking across Perth Water.jpg|640px|The Darling Scarp as seen from Kings Park. It is seen as being the body of the Wagyl.|alt=}}
== Influence on modern culture ==
[[File:Platinum Jubilee- Matagarup Bridge.jpg|thumb|Matagarup bridge during Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee]]
The Wagyl is depicted in the 1982 play ''Kullark'' by Jack Davis.<ref name=":0" /> The design of [[Matagarup Bridge]] in Perth over the Swan river is sometimes interpreted as representing the Wagyl.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rachel |first=Lees |date=28 July 2023 |title=This is the wildest 40 seconds you’ll have in Perth |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/this-is-the-wildest-40-seconds-youll-have-in-perth/news-story/4b57dfb9c6303d245c4599fda28fd716 |website=The Courier Mail}}</ref>
The [[France|French]] [[one-man band]] Waagal takes its name from the serpent. Erwann Texier-Harth, the individual behind Waagal, incorporates the Aboriginal [[didgeridoo]] into many of his pieces.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=http://waagal.fr/about/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=WAAGAL |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== In art ===
The Waugal Aboriginal Corporation is an Aboriginal art organization based in [[Pinjarra, Western Australia|Pinjara]]. It received $6,400 of funding to hold an exhibition at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre as part of NAIDOC Week in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KEEPING INDIGENOUS CULTURE STRONG |url=https://creative.gov.au/news/media-releases/keeping-indigenous-culture-strong-2/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Creative Australia |language=en-US}}</ref>
On 13 November 2020, a mural in Guildford depicting the Wagyl was unveiled by WA Minister for Water Dave Kelly as part of the Splash of Colour program launched in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aboriginal artists make a splash in Guildford for NAIDOC Week |url=https://www.watercorporation.com.au/About-us/Media-releases/2020/November-2020/Aboriginal-artists-make-a-splash-in-Guildford-for-NAIDOC-Week |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.watercorporation.com.au |language=en}}</ref>
On 20 July 2023, a mural depicting the Wagyl was unveiled at a water pump station in Gosnells by the Minister for Water [[Simone McGurk]]. The project was led by Nerolie Bynder in partnership with the [[Water Corporation (Western Australia)|Water Corporation]], and local schools and artists. The mural is also part of the Splash of Colour program launched in 2017. The murals were praised by [[Chris Tallentire]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-07-20 |title=Waugal and banksia murals shine on refreshed water assets |url=https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/waugal-and-banksia-murals-shine-on-refreshed-water-assets/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=The National Tribune |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Waugal and banksia murals shine on refreshed water assets {{!}} Western Australian Government |url=https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook%20Labor%20Government/Waugal-and-banksia-murals-shine-on-refreshed-water-assets--20230720 |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.wa.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[Aboriginal mythology]]
*[[Burlong Pool, Western Australia|Burlong Pool]]
*[[Bibbulmun Track]]
*[[Wirnpa]]
==General references==
*{{Citation | author1=Western Australia. Dept. of Conservation and Land Management | title=Sharing the dreaming : Nyoongar Aboriginal stories of the dreaming : the wagyl | publication-date=1998 | publisher=Dept. of Conservation & Land Management | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/161803740 | access-date=15 November 2012 }}
*Flannery, Tim (2002) ''The Future Eaters: an Ecological History of the Australian Lands and People'' {{ISBN|0-8021-3943-4}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:
[[Category:Australian Aboriginal deities]]
[[Category:Australian Aboriginal legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Creator deities]]
[[Category:Rainbow serpent deities]]
[[Category:Swan River (Western Australia)]]
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