Bidia people facts for kids
The Bidia people, also known as Biria, are an Aboriginal Australian group from the central and western parts of Queensland. They have their own language called Pirriya.
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The Bidia Language
The Bidia people speak the Pirriya language. It is also known as Biria or Birria. Experts have studied this language to understand how it connects to other Aboriginal languages. Some believe it is part of a group called Maric languages.
Where the Bidia Lived
The Bidia people lived on a large area of land, about 11,900 square kilometers (4,600 square miles). Their traditional lands stretched from Whitula Creek in the west to Keeroongooloo and the Canaway Range in the east. They lived west of the Thomson River and Cooper Creek, near places like Jundah and Gilpeppee.
Bidia Customs and Way of Life
The Bidia people were very clever at building homes. They made huts by digging into the sand and then strengthening them with saplings and earth. They would light fires inside these huts for cooking and warmth.
They also made fishing nets from a type of native hemp. Their food mainly consisted of damper, which they made from flour. This flour came from the seeds of a plant called nardoo and other grass seeds. They cooked this damper over ashes.
In Bidia culture, people usually married one person. Young people would marry in their teenage years. It was a custom for couples to wait until they were older, around 30, before having children. When Bidia people met after being apart for a long time, they would show their happiness by embracing and even kissing.
History with Others
In 1874, settlers began to develop the Bidia's traditional lands for farming and raising animals. At that time, it was thought that about 500 Bidia people lived in the area. People noticed that the Bidia often lived to be very old.
Other Names for Bidia
- Biria
- Birria
- Piria
