The Yam People are Nayuhyungki (first people, or ancestors) who look after karrbarda (long yams), as well as cheeky yams, water chestnuts and similar bush foods. They set up what time of year to harvest which bush food. Karrbarda are an important food source for Kunwinjku people and are mostly harvested after Kudjewk (the wet season) is over in March-April. Their growing cycle is to sprout leaves
with the first rains and grow through Kudjewk forming tubers underground that can be harvested or wait to grow again in the following year.