Gunditjmara

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Gunditjmara, or Gundidj for short, are an Indigenous Australian group from southern Victoria (Gunditj = belonging to, mara = person).

The name may also be spelt Gournditch-Mara. Sub-groups, based on differing dialects, include Dhauwurd wurrung.^[1]

They were traditionally river and lake people, with Framlingham Forest, Lake Condah and the surrounding river systems being of great importance to them economically and spiritually. They had a sophisticated system of aquaculture and eel farming as well as stone dwellings. They built stone dams to hold the water in these areas, creating ponds and wetlands in which they grew short-fin eels and other fish. They also created channels linking these wetlands. These channels contained weirs with large woven baskets made by women to harvest mature eels.

From the late nineteenth century many moved into, or were moved into, the Framlingham Aboriginal Station, a mission outside Warrnambool. In 1987, the Victorian Labor government under John Cain attempted to grant some of the Framlingham State Forest to the trust as inalienable title, however the legislation was blocked by the Liberal Party opposition in the Victorian Legislative Council. However, the federal Labor government under Bob Hawke intervened, passing the Aboriginal Land Act 1987, which gave 1,130 acres (5 km²) of the Framlingham Forest to the Framlingham Trust. Although the title is essentially inalienable, in that it can only be transferred to another Indigenous land trust, the Framlingham Trust has no rights to prevent mining on the land, unlike trusts or communities holding native title.

In 1993, the Peek Whurrong speakers of the Dhauwurdwurung (Gunditjmara) Nation purchased the Deen Maar Indigenous Protected Area under the auspices of ATSIC for the Framlingham Aboriginal Trust, with the intention that it become an Indigenous Protected Area, it was granted this status in 1999. It is the first IPA in Victoria.

Gunditjmara people from the Lake Condah and surrounding area fiercely fought for the recognition of their traditional owner rights. In 1987 (along with the Framlingham community) received recognition through the Australian Government's Aboriginal Land (Lake Condah and Framlingham Forest) Act 1987.

The Lake Condah Mob launched their Native Title Claim in August 1996 and following eleven years of self determination, the Lake Condah Mob are scheduled to received formal recognition for their Native Title Rights in March 2007.

Through organisations like Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation and the Gunditjmara Native Title Claimant Group (now the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation have initiated many important projects that are based on the principles of sustainable development and broder community engagement most notably, the Lake Condah Sustainable Development Project.

The Lake Condah Mob of Gunditjmara people have acquired around 20 square kilometres of properties along the highly significant Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape. The properties features the traditional constructed aquaculture system and sites of permanent settlement. The Gunditjmara's sites of permanent settlement dispel the myth of Gunditjmara being nomadic.

The Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape in this area has been listed as a Heritage Place on the Australian National Heritage List.

Contents 1 Alternative names 2 History of conflict 2.1 Convincing Ground massacre 2.2 Eumerella Wars 3 Gunditjmara of note 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Alternative names

Dhauhurtwurru (language name), Kunditjmara, Gournditch-mara, Kuurn-kopan-noot (language name) Kirurndit, Tourahonong, Weeritch-Weeritch, Ngutuk ("thou" by adjacent tribe), Villiers tribe Spring Creek tribe (a grp), Port Fairy tribe (a grp), Gournditch-Mara, Gurndidy, Dhaurwurd-Wurrung.

[edit] History of conflict

[edit] Convincing Ground massacre

Main articles: Convincing Ground massacre and List of massacres of indigenous Australians

In 1833, whalers clashed with the Kilcarer Gundidj on the beach at Portland. Under dispute was the carcass of a beached whale. There is some current debate as to the veracity of reports regarding this massacre. However, diary reports of the time^[2] refer to a skirmish, involving Gunditj throwing spears and whalers firing guns.Though no mention of any fatalities were first recorded by Robinson, he later summised in his official report that there were many killed, with only two surviving.This summisation being based upon his Aboriginal interpretors who did not speak the local dialect. Not two months after writing his interpretation of this clash, stating of no incidence of any remaining local Aboriginals, a letter from the Portland Police Magistrate to Governor Latrobe stating of up to 200 Aboriginals amassing at the Convincing Ground flies in the face of Robinsons journal. reports.Latrobe^[3]

[edit] Eumerella Wars

Main article: Deen Maar Indigenous Protected Area

Deen Maar was the site of conflict between the indigenous people of the area and European colonists. This conflict is referred to as the Eumerella Wars and took place over 20 years in the mid-1800s. The remains of people involved in the conflict are at Deen Maar.

[edit] Gunditjmara of note

• Richard Frankland, playwright and musician.
• Norm McDonald, AFL player.
• Robert Lowe, author of The Mish, about growing up on the Framlingham Mission.
• Archie Roach, singer.
• Chris L. Johnson, Brisbane Lions AFL player.

[edit] See also

• Deen Maar Indigenous Protected Area
• Marn Grook

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative
• Ausanthrop
• Worn Gundidj Cooperative