Brabiralung facts for kids
The Brabiralung are an Indigenous Australian group of people. They are one of five main family groups, or clans, from Gippsland in Victoria, Australia. They are part of a larger group called the Kurnai people.
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What Does Their Name Mean?
The name Brabiralung comes from their own language. It uses the word "bra," which means "man." When "bra" is repeated, it means "manly." The ending "-(g)alung" means "of" or "belonging to." So, Brabiralung means "belonging to manly people."
Their Language
The Brabiralung people spoke a language called Gunai. It was a special way of speaking, like a dialect, within the larger Gunai language family.
Their Traditional Lands
The Brabiralung people lived on a large area of land. It was about 6,200 square kilometres (2,400 sq mi) in size. This land included the areas around the Mitchell, Nicholson, and Tambo rivers. Their southern border reached places like Bairnsdale and Bruthen. To the west, their land went past the Mitchell River to Providence Ponds and along the edges of the Gippsland Lakes.
Important People: Tulaba
One important Brabiralung man was named Tulaba. He shared a lot of knowledge about his people with a researcher named Alfred William Howitt. Tulaba usually stayed away from missions, which were places where many Indigenous people were sent.
Around 1866, Tulaba met Alfred Howitt near Bairnsdale. Howitt had started a hops farm there. Tulaba helped manage the Indigenous people who picked hops. Tulaba felt comfortable with Howitt because Howitt respected Indigenous ways. Howitt even took on a special family role with Tulaba. This helped Tulaba feel okay about sharing information about important traditions.
Tulaba shared details about his family and community. He used a special system with matchsticks to show how families were connected. This information was very important for understanding Indigenous family systems. Tulaba died in 1886 at the Lake Tyers Mission.
Other Names for Brabiralung
- Brabirrawulung, Brabriwoolong
- Brabrolong
- Brabrolung
- Bundah Wark Kani
- Bundhul Wark Kani
- Muk-thang
- Wakeruk
