Bigambul facts for kids

The Bigambul people are an Aboriginal Australian group. They traditionally lived in the Northern Tablelands and Border Rivers areas. These regions are located on the border between New South Wales and Queensland.

What "Bigambul" Means

The name "Bigambul" comes from their traditional language. It is based on the word biga or pika. This word means "yes" in English.

The Bigambul people lived near several other Aboriginal groups. To their southeast were the Ngarabal people. The Kamilaroi lived to their south. The Kooma were to their west. To the north were the Mandandanji and Kabi people. The Baruŋgam lived to their northeast.

Bigambul Traditional Land

The Bigambul people's traditional land covered a large area. It was about 26,500 square kilometers. This land stretched east of Nindigully, along the Weir and Moonie rivers. It went north to Tara and included Talwood.

Their territory also included the Macintyre River. This part of the river was from east of Boomi to Texas. It also covered areas like Yetman, Boggabilla, and Middle Creek.

Bigambul Language

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies says the Bigambul language was spoken by these people. It had known dialects called Gambuwal and Kwiambal (or Gujambal).

However, people living in the southern Bigambul territory likely spoke the Gamilaraay language. This language is also known as Yuwaaliyaay.

History of Bigambul Resistance

The Bigambul people strongly resisted European settlement on their land. In the early 1840s, they began a long effort to protect their territory. This resistance lasted for about 14 years.

The Bigambul leaders were smart about how they fought. They focused on horses and cattle belonging to the settlers. This made it harder for the settlers to stay on the land. At first, their efforts were very successful. In 1843, 17 settler properties in the Macintyre region were left empty. Only 13 of these were re-occupied three years later.

By 1851, the resistance had become very difficult for the Bigambul. Many of their people had been lost. Despite the challenges, the Bigambul people showed great strength and determination. They worked hard to keep their culture and connection to their land alive.

Native Title Rights

On February 23, 2001, the Bigambul people achieved an important victory. They successfully claimed native title over a large area. This area was about 24,188 square kilometers in South Western Queensland. This claim recognized their traditional rights to their land.

Notable Bigambul People

• Chris Sandow is a professional rugby league footballer. He is a notable Bigambul person.