Transcript

Welcome. I’m standing on the shore of Kamay Botany Bay National Park, in a place walked on by the Gweagal people for thousands of years, and also by the crew of the Endeavour for eight days in 1770.

We’re not exactly sure what the Gweagal were doing during those eight days, but knowledge from the Dharawal elders, and journals from the Endeavour give historians an idea of their daily activities.

There is much mention of fishing, the men on the water in bark canoes, known as ‘nawis’ or ‘mudyerri’, with three-pronged spears. Others were paddling along the shore line, collecting oysters and mussels to cook on the small fires they had burning on clay beds in their canoes.

Here in the bush, the Gweagal watched the crewmen from the Endeavour taking and using the resources. A few times the Gweagal men came close to the crewmen.

I wonder how the Gweagal were feeling? What do you think they told their families about the strangers?

End of transcript.