In the Beginning of Time, the Ancestral Beings often existed in the form of birds, fish, animals or reptiles. It was at this time that Kurdukadji, the Emu Ancestor, roamed across western Arnhem Land teaching Aboriginal people various ceremonies and instructing them in the use of emu feathers for head-dresses and arm bands and how to paint the Emu Design on their bodies. Kurdukadji once had large wings with which he could fly. One day, however, two hunters, not realizing that he was the powerful Emu Ancestor, tracked kurdukadji through the bushland with spear upraised to kill him. While fleeing the hunters, Emu crashed into a group of pine trees and broke his wings. However he still managed to run into a nearby water-hole, where he changed into Ngalyod the Rainbow Serpent. When the hunters came to this pool,Kurdukadji emerged and swollowed them. He then changed back into an emu only now he had shortened wings. As a result of this incident, emus can no longer fly but can only run through the bush flapping their wings. After heavy storms Emu Ancestor can be seen as a rainbow in the sky, recalling the time he changed into Ngalyod.

Bu korroko duninjh nawu mayhmayh djenj dja nawern nawu mayh bolkkime kahre kore kukku kurorre dja karrolkan kaddum.Kunekke yimi bu korroko kurdukadji rengehrey manberrk kore Arnhem Land benehbukkani bininj Ceremonies bu kunmud birrikurrmi kore kukodj bedberre dja kuberl dja birribimbuni bim kurdukadji kore kunburrk bedberre.Kurdukadji korroko karrmi kunberl mankimuk bu dolkani rey kaddum.Kunkodjkekudji benebokenh bininj benehwarlbuni minj benebengkayinj bu ngalengh ngalmurrrayekni.Wanjh benebokkang yimankek beneyameninj dja larrk lobmeng kore manlarrh dulkmirnderri.Wanjh berlbakmeng dja kamak bu lobmeng kore darnkih manlabbarl boyohboyoy kumekke djuhmeng wanjh Ngalyod yimerranj.Bininj nawu benemkadjuy kumekke manlabbarl benmenekuknguneng.Wanjh kurdukadji yawoyhyimerranj dja berldjumbungminj kore manlarrh biberlbakkeng dja kalobme wernkih kore manberrk.Bu nakimuk dulmuk mandjewk kamankan wanjh karrinan Ngalyod kahwaraldi kore kungol kahkayhme bu Ngalyod yimerranj.