Kowanyama, Queensland
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Kowanyama Aboriginal Community () is a town on the Gulf of Carpentaria side of Cape York in North Queensland, Australia.
The Aboriginal people who live in this community include Kokominjena, Kokoberra and Kunjen groups, amongst others. In the Yir-Yoront language, Kowanyama means "The place of many waters." The community is situated on the banks of the Magnificent, a tributary of the Mitchell River 20 klms inland from the coastline of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Kowanyama is accessed by an all weather airstrip, as well as unsealed roads in the dry season from Pormpurraw to the north, Normanton to the south and Cairns to the east.
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[edit] Recent History
In 1905, Trubanamen Mission was established inland on Topsy Creek, now known as the old mission. Aboriginal peoples of the region were gradually drawn from their ancestral lands into the mission settlement. Later, in 1916, Mitchell River Mission was founded on the present site of Kowanyama and the Trubanamen site abandoned. Some peoples continued to occupy their traditional lands, moving into Kowanyama as late as the 1940s. 1200 people now live in Kowanyama, making it one of the largest communities on the Cape York Peninsula. Kowanyama's Aboriginal people continue to identify strongly with their ancestral countries and with the languages, stories, songs, dances, and histories associated with those countries. Language groups associated with countries in the Kowanyama region are Yir Yoront, Yirrk Thangalkl, Koko Bera, Uw Oykangand, and Olkola.
In 1964, a cyclone destroyed the mission. The Queensland government funded the rebuilding.
In 1967 the Anglican church were no longer able to sustain their activities in the area as a Church Mission. The Department of Aboriginal and Islander Affairs, a government department, under the Act continued running the affairs of the community.
In July 1987, the State Government of Queensland implemented legislation for a DOGIT, ( Deed of Grant in Trust ), over the lands in the Mitchell River delta, an area of 250 km². The deed covered the traditional lands of the people of Kowanyama. Like other DOGIT communities of the time, Kowanyama had a town Council elected by Aboriginal people living in the community. The newly formed Kowanyama Council assumed responsibility for implementing certain conditions of the DOGIT. Seven elected Aboriginal residents hold three year terms in office.
Since the 1990s, many Kowanyama people have been returning to their Ancestral lands through the Homelands Movement. Homelands within the Kowanyama DOGIT include Scrubby Bore, Red Lilly, Ten Mile, Shelfo, Stewart Place, Old Rodeo Ground, Kowanyumal, Duck Hole, Wonya Bore, Kokomenjen Island, Wallaby Island, Joe's Lagoon, Yangr Bore, Engkoram, Fish Hole and Thilpi.
Other homelands, including the Oriners Pastoral Lease and the Sefton Pastoral Lease, were independently purchased by the Kowanyama Council and are located outside the DOGIT boundary.
[edit] Culture
Elders in Kowanyama.
[edit] Community Justice Group
A Community Justice Group is operating within Kowanyama. This group is made up of respected members in the community. They meet to discuss issues within the town and make recommendations to Council.
The community also has a Council of Elders, who are consulted by the Kowanyama Council when making community decisions. The Elders operate in conjunction with the Lands Office.
[edit] Lands Office
[edit] Education
The Kowanyama School educates children from preschool classes (4 years) to grade 10 (15 years). After grade 8, students from Kowanyama are encouraged to leave the community to attend boarding schools. Many students find it very difficult to leave the community and fit into boarding school life.
[edit] Shopping
Kowanyama has a small supermarket that sells fresh foods, packaged and frozen foods, and hardware items. The store is similar to a medium sized IGA store. The store is operated by DATSIP, and the manager is able to obtain any goods that are not normally kept for sale. The store prices are somewhat higher than provincial towns, which reflect the high costs of transport and storage.
The coffee shop Operated by the Anglican Church, a fully air-conditioned Coffee Shop stocks take away food, entertainment media and small goods.
[edit] Accommodation
There is a Guest House located in the town
[edit] Travel
Kowanyama is serviced weekly in the dry season by road trains from Cairns. The service becomes more frequent as the wet season approaches. Early storms in October can make the 400 klm dirt road to Chillago east of the community subject to flooding. By late December the storms of the monoons have usually arrived, isolating the community by road. The monsoons are regarded as the arrival of nhawrr yirrpa, the Rainbow Snake who brings the life giving water to the land. During the wet season, which may last until May, the community is serviced only by aircraft, as all other access is restricted. During the wet season, fresh foods and perishables are flown into the community each week on charter planes by stores in town. Airline passenger services to Cairns, 600 klms away is maintained through out the year.
The Kowanyama Canteen operates Monday to Friday, from 3:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Patrons may buy light beer only. Brands such as Mid Strength, 4 ### Gold, and Hahn Light are available. Patrons may consume beer only on the premises, as there is a take-away restriction as well. Like other remote communities on Cape York Peninsular, bans on alcohol privately entering the community are in effect, enforced by Police.
