Why the Whale is Big single work   prose   children's   Indigenous story   dreaming story  
Note: 'A story from Yirrkala, told to Margaret Djuwandangu by her Father.' (p. [33])
Issue Details: First known date: 1968... 1968 Why the Whale is Big
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Skinny little Whale was teased by Shark for being so small. All of the fish laughed at him, making Whale very angry. Octopus offered Whale advice in return for not being eaten. Octopus told Whale that he should eat a lot of fish, until he became the biggest of all. Now all of sharks and other fish are afraid of him.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Aboriginal Children's Stories W. D. Nicol (editor), E. C. Nicol (editor), Darwin : Northern Territory Administration , 1968 Z1423886 1968 anthology prose children's Indigenous story dreaming story A collection of stories retold by the Aboriginal teaching assistants of Kormilda College, Darwin, with acknowledgement to original story-tellers and collectors of Indigenous stories. Darwin : Northern Territory Administration , 1968 pg. 30-33
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Last amended 11 Oct 2010 16:44:59
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  • Yirrkala, Gove Peninsula, East Arnhem Land, Arnhem Land, Top End, Northern Territory,
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