Stories about Fire, Wind, the Moon and other Dreamings

Solomon Cocky recorded more than 200 stories on cassette tapes during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, about the Dreaming, hunting, and everyday life in the desert. The stories were transcribed by the Nyangumarta linguist Monty Hale, and some were published with Solomon’s illustrations for the bilingual school publishing program at Strelley Community School in the Pilbara. Fourteen of these stories have been newly translated by Monty’s daughter and Nyangumarta elder Barbara Hale for Stories about Fire, Wind, the Moon and other Dreamings: Warinypa wariny Mangunyjaja muwarr wirlarrapa wangalpa wika.

This collection of Nyangumarta children’s stories edited by Barbara Hale and Inge Kral, derives from Solomon’s original extensive collection. Barbara says that for Solomon, the pictures were as important as the words: ‘I think he must be thinking from his pictures first when he tell the story.’ Drawing with felt pens and occasionally with coloured pencils, Solomon’s stories probably come from his Country around Nullagine, his landscapes like the creeks, sand dunes and vegetation.