This activity is the second of two hands-on guides from our NAIDOC Week Play and Craft Ideas series, where we explore how creative play can honour and celebrate the world's oldest continuous cultures.
The Rainbow Serpent is one of the most powerful and enduring figures across First Nations Dreaming stories - a great life-giver, protector of water, and keeper of the seasons. While the name and form vary across language groups, the serpent's presence is felt throughout Country. This activity invites children to bring the Rainbow Serpent to life through colour and imagination, and in doing so, to connect with one of the most ancient stories ever told.
The Rainbow Serpent has many different names and appearances across the many First Nations language groups of Australia. In all those groups, the Rainbow Serpent is part of the Dreaming and Creation stories, representing one of the great and powerful forces of nature and spirit. Connected to water, the Rainbow Serpent is the great life giver, and protector of water, as well as the cycle of the seasons.
Rainbows are the serpent snaking from one waterhole to another, replenishing waterholes around the Country. So next time you see a rainbow in the sky, you'll know it's the Rainbow Serpent passing by.
