Year 5 - Local Aboriginal History

Local Aboriginal Facts, History and Information

WARNING: “Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images and/or names of people who have since passed away.”

NAIDOC Resources can be found using the links below:

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SMC believes God is the creator of this earth and we are accountable to Him for its use. The College acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land and their continuing connection to land and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to their Elders past, present and future.

Further, we pay our respects to all those in our community who are our elders, for we represent many cultures and are particularly indebted to those who have nurtured and trained us in spiritual matters.

Our Local Aboriginal Communities

Our local Aboriginal people from Ipswich, Redbank Plains and surrounding towns, come from three different nations/ groups of people. The word local means near us.

These nations of people all speak the Yugera language.

Yuggera
Jagera
Ugarapul

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Source: NITV

Here is some information about each group:

Yuggera:

The totem spirit animal is the sand goanna.

Jagera

The totem spirit animal is the snake.

Ugarapul

The totem spirit animal is the frog.
The Ugarapul people have a spiritual connection with the Bremer River. They never swam in the river or camped beside it. They only used the river for hunting and fishing.

This information can be seen at Riverheart Parklands.

Staines MC Elders

Our Aboriginal Elders at Staines MC are Uncle Joe Kirk and Uncle Eddy Ruska.

Uncle Eddy is the manager and founder of the Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Dance Troupe .

Uncle Joe is a published author and has written a book with some friends called, Budinge and the Min Min Lights. The Story of the Mother Eel, is another one of his books.

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Uncle Joe

Uncle Eddy

Learn About Uncle Joe

Websites with more info about Uncle Joe:

Learn About Uncle Eddie

Websites with information about Uncle Eddy:

Staines MC Aboriginal Friends

Author: Greg Dreise

One of our friends at Staines MC is the wonderful author that came to visit us - Greg Dreise. "He is very proud of his Kamilaroi and Euahlayi heritage. The Kamilaroi and Euahlayi peoples’ lands extend from south-west Queensland into north-west New South Wales."

Before the Year 1788

What did Aboriginal people do before European settlement?

Aboriginal people lived, hunted and fished. They felt connected to their country and land because it reminded them of their ancestors. Some Aboriginal people believe that their ancestors have turned into the land, trees, plants and animals. They felt connected to their land when they told Dreaming stories, danced, sang and created art. The land they feel the most connected to, is often the land their family and ancestors originally came from.

Click on this link to learn more about how Aboriginal people feel about their land: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0sWIVR1hXw

Diet

They travelled through the bush, hunting with spears and boomerangs (throwing sticks) and searching for food such as plants, grubs, and insects, and hunting for animals. Aboriginal people would only ever take the food that they were going to eat. They would never take more then they needed. They wanted to protect and nurture the environment around them to ensure the environment continued to flourish.

To learn more about Aboriginal diets click here: https://education.abc.net.au/home#!/media/154684/

Tools

They didn't have many belongings and made everything they needed. They made sure they never took to much from the environment as they wanted to keep it safe.

The well-being of the land, and its plants and animals are vital and sacred to the aboriginal people.

Music/ Dance/ Art

Aboriginals have a unique way of telling their history. They use songs and stories that are passed from generation to generation. These stories were told to the children from elders. They were called Dream time stories. Dream time stories helped children to understand their history and how to survive/ live in Australia.

Artwork was often made up of symbols that told a story. Each symbol had a meaning. Click here to learn more: https://www.aboriginal-art-australia.com/aboriginal-art-library/the-story-of-aboriginal-art/

Bora Rings were used to mark a place for special Aboriginal ceremonies. It was normally a circle of raised dirt. Sometimes more then one circle (Bora Ring) would be connected with pathways. Bora Rings were often used for male initiation ceremonies. Sometimes women were allowed to watch, but not always and they were not allowed inside the Bora at any time.

Aboriginal people would dance and play instruments too. Some of the instruments were didgeridoos (only for boys) and clapsticks (only for girls).

Shelter

They lived in caves or shelter made from plants. They would move campsites to move closer to food and water sources. That meant that often they would have to move at least every season to set up a new campsite. Aboriginal people had a base camp that had nearby facitilities (such as cermonial grounds, burial grounds, public areas and a dump/ refuse tip). A man named Colin Munro described the Aboriginal shelters as little villages similar to other countries. One camp he spoke about had 50 huts. Each hut had approximately 5 to 6 people living in each.

Clothing

Their clothing was made from plants or animal skins.

Toys

Click here to learn about the toys children played with: https://australianmuseum.net.au/learn/cultures/atsi-collection/aboriginal-toys/

Connections to Country and Land

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In the year 1788

In 1788, the European people from England, Scotland, Ireland and other countries moved their convicts (prisoners) to Australia. Not long after many other people from different countries wanted to move to Australia too.

After the year 1788

After European Settlement

When the Europeans (British) came to Australia in 1788, they called the native people “aboriginals”, meaning people who had lived there since the earliest times. The British stole the land and many Aborigines died. They were either killed or died from diseases from the European people. Aboriginal people would die from things such as the flu and chickenpox because their bodies were not used to the illnesses that the new people brought to Australia.

The explorer John Oxley, on first sighting the Turrbal people (Aboriginal's from Brisbane) in 1824, called them 'about the strongest and best-made muscular men I have seen in any country'.

Today and into the Future

Today there are about 517,000 Aboriginals in Australia. Most live in cities, but a few thousand still try to follow a traditional way of life.

Aboriginal people try to stay connected to their culture by learning about traditional dances, paintings and Dreamtime Stories. It reminds them of who they are, and where they come from. It is really important to remember their country and ancestors.

Sadly, some people are not nice to Aboriginal people. Aboriginal people are still suffering from bullying. Bullying a person because of their skin colour or culture is called racism.

If you see a person being bullied because of the colour of their skin, it is important to remind them that we are all brothers and sisters and we should be taking care of each other.

If the person does not listen, find a safe adult to help you.

Videos that teach us about Australian history.

Watch these videos to learn more.

Aboriginal Celebrations

Marriage Ceremonies/ Gatherings

Hunting Ceremonies/ Gatherings

The Bunya Nut Celebration

This was a gathering of many different nations of Aboriginals from South East Qld. They would have a corroboree - this is where they would dance, sing, discuss things, swap information, eat nuts and settle arguments. These meetings were still occurring until the 1870's.

Boonyi Festival at Wakka Country

(To be researched at a later date).

Aboriginal Languages

Yugara is the name of one of the languages spoken in the Brisbane area west to Ipswich and the Lockyer Valley. The language was spoken and understood by Aboriginal groups in the Greater Brisbane area, including neighbouring groups of Turubul, Yugambeh and Yugarabul. The following list identifies Yugara everyday words and their suggested pronunciation. Some of these words may still be used in South-East Queensland communities. As Aboriginal languages were oral-based, the spelling of Yugara and Yugara language may differ in historical documents and other sources; for example Yugara is the AIATSIS Preferred spelling; however it has also been spelt Yuggera, Jagara, Yaggara.

When Europeans first came to Australia there were more then 250 separate Aboriginal languages. Today there are still approximately 145 spoken across the country. However only 18 are spoken by Indigenous people of all age groups. Language is passed down orally.

Note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages were oral-based; there may be several variations in spelling and pronunciation. The following list should be seen as a guide - check with local language speakers as to the preferred local pronunciation.

English Yugara Pronunciation

Boy Gibarr Gib-bah

Child Molum Mow-lum (jarjum is also a popular word for child).

Creek/River Warril Wor-rill

Echidna Kaggur Kag-goor

Emu Ngurun Ngoo-run

Father Babun Bar-boon

Friend Yuingin You-in-gin

Girl Yurumkin Yar-um-kin

Grandfather Yuguinpin You-gwin-pin

Grandmother Barbang Bah-bung

Kangaroo Murri Mur-ree

Man Dhan Darn

Mother Budang Boo-dung

Brisbane Mianjin

Ipswich Tulmur or Doolmoor

Willy Wagtail Jillem Jillem

Good day Gurumba bigi

There were many Aboriginal countries/ nations. They were many people from many different countries. They spoke many different languages and all had different belief systems. This picture shows the many different languages spoken. In the Yuggera Language group alone, there were 3 different countries/ nations.

Local Aboriginal Sacred Places

What is a sacred place? Sacred site means a site that is sacred to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people or is otherwise of significance according to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tradition.

White Rock

White Rock is a place for women's business. Women's business means a place to give birth to children.

The Aboriginal name for White Rock is Nugum, and it means wild dog or dingo.

Local Indigenous groups have asked people not to climb on White Rock, however many people ignore them, or do not know about their wishes.

In 1912 the American army took the area over to use it for shooting practice and military training. There are still remains of gun pits, bunkers, and bullet shells still being found today.

For more information about the history of White Rock, click here - https://mildlyextreme.com/2014/12/16/lured-by-the-big-dog-history-and-hiking-at-white-rock/

Now in 2020, the area has many new housing developments, schools and businesses. There is still some bushland around White Rock where people can go for bush walks.

Bundamba Lagoon

A sacred place that Aboriginal people no longer have access too.

Queen's Park - Ipswich

A large, thriving Aboriginal camp site. They were forcibly removed from this site in 1880. The majority of the families from this camp were taken to the Deebing Creek Mission.

Deebing Creek Mission

This place opened in 1887 and was a place to put Aboriginal people that had been removed from other areas, including Queen's Park and Purga. There was a working farm, a school and Christian missionaries. Deebing Creek Mission was closed in 1915 and the Aboriginal families were moved to the Purga Mission and cattle station.

Below: A photo from 1903 at Deebing Creek Mission.

Claredon

A Bora Ring was found at Claredon as early as the 1880's. Bora ring means a sacred Aboriginal initiation place.

Fernvale

In 1981 archaeologists discovered Aboriginal artefacts estimated to be 5300 years old from an ancient site in Fernvale.

Glenore Grove

A Bora Ring and pathway can be seen on Google Earth at Glenore Grove.

Woogaroo (Goodna), means whirlpool.

Goupong Park (Goodna Creek) was a major Aboriginal camp. (100m2) and was to the east of Goodna Creek (western boundary of Rifle Range).

Camira

Bora Ring - Ngutanalui.

Redbank

Bora Ring, (near the Redbank Hotel and railway workshops).

Google Maps - Glenore Grove Bora Ring and path

Glenore Grove Bora Ring and Path

1903 Deebing Creek Mission

Aboriginal Settlement at Queen's Park Ipswich lived along side European settlers in Ipswich.

Local Aboriginal People:

Faye Carr

https://twitter.com/indigenous_gov/status/881116087156301824

https://www.naidoc.org.au/awards/winner-profiles/faye-carr

Desmond Sandy
Ruth James
Pearl Sandy
Neville Bonner
Jeannie Bell
Latia Schefe
Susan - Bunjoey (daughter of Moonpago).
King Billy Turner - The King of the Lockyer Valley (seen in picture below). The name was given to this man by a European settler.

King Billy Turner - The King of the Lockyer Valley

Famous Aboriginal People

Cathy Freeman - olympian runner
Yothu Yindi - rock band
The man on the 2 dollar coin name is Gwoya Jungarai and he was one of the only survivors of one of the last recognised massacres of Aboriginal people, the 1928 Coniston Massacre in Central Australia. Almost every Australian has seen his face , Next time you hold a 2 dollar coin in your hand take a minute to reflect on Gwoya Jungarai. Gwoya Tjungurrayi is also spelt Gwoya Jungarai or Gwoya Djungarai he was a Walpiri-Anmatyerre man of the Northern Territory of Australia. The design of the Australian two dollar coin was inspired by a drawing of Tjungurrayi by artist Ainslie Roberts in 1988.

Gwoya Jungarai

Local Aboriginal Cultural Dances

Dreamtime Stories from all over Australia

Aboriginal Flag

National Anthem

Native Title and Mabo

Newspaper articles about the local Aboriginal people

Deebing Creek Sacred Site: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-31/deebing-creek-mission-protest-to-halt-housing-development/10763670
Aboriginal Warriors: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/queensland-historys-hidden-warrior-20150501-1my8ac.html
Aboriginal local artist Brad Elliot - https://www.qt.com.au/news/its-good-for-my-kids-to-see-something-their-dad-di/3125974/
Debate about climbing Uluru - https://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2016/s4675538.htm?site=westqld
Aboriginal Sites - https://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2014/07/04/4039235.htm
Local Elders - https://www.qt.com.au/news/learn-how-to-speak-the-local-language/3196744/

Did you know???

Boundary Street around Brisbane were the streets that Aboriginal people were not allowed to go past after a certain time of the day, otherwise they would be arrested.

References: