Notes:

Artist's Notes:

Long before humans set across the sea, Australia had been home to a race of mermaids called yawkyawks, sometimes spelled out as two words, yawk yawks, or also known as likanaya. They are freshwater fish-tailed maidens whose seaweed hair floats to the surface of the water, easily mistaken for a bunch of plants. Sometimes they are tied so well with their watery dwelling, that it is as though they are one, and a bend in a river may have been referred to as the yawkyawk's elbow or a delta her tail fin, and so on.

ORIGIN:

The ancient Aboriginal people were aware of evolution and had a few related theories on where yawkyawks came from.

Some believe that yawkyawks were creatures that didn't quite finish evolving from animal to human. Some believe they were people who partially evolved back into animals after having experiences in the dreamtime, a plane of existence where all time exists simultaneously and one can commune with their ancestors.

Still others believe yawkyawks are ancient spirits that participated in the creation of all life on earth, while they are often said to be related to Ngalyod, or Rainbow Serpent creator god either as his daughters or his wives.

HOME:

Yawkyawks live in freshwater pools, streams, rivers and lakes.

MAGIC:

Yawkyawks can shape-shift into any form, but have a preference for taking that of swordfish, snakes, crocodiles and dragonflies. They can manipulate the weather for good or ill. Women who visit or bathe in their waters could magically become pregnant.

TEMPERAMENT:

Yawkyawks are mostly shy and kind-hearted spirits. At night they take the form of dragonflies, or sometimes as women, to wander around on land. If you spot one sitting at the surface of her home during the day, she'll probably jump back into the water before you have a chance to react.

They are very protective of their waters, and will warn humans if they feel their home is being over fished. If their words are not taken seriously, they may take more drastic measures to stop you, even causing your death.

Sometimes they speak to women to help guide them in dreamtime ceremonies. They have been known to marry human men on occasion, but never stick around on land for too long, eventually leaving their husbands to return to life as a yawkyawk. People who have albinism are said to have had a yawkyawk in their ancestry.