Bunuba facts for kids
The Bunuba people are an Indigenous Australian group. They are also known as Bunaba, Punapa, or Punuba. They are the traditional owners of land in the southern West Kimberley area of Western Australia. Many Bunuba people live near the town of Fitzroy Crossing today.
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Bunuba Language
The Bunuba language is unique. It is one of only two languages in the Bunuban language family.
Bunuba Country: Traditional Lands
The traditional lands of the Bunuba people covered about 6,475 square kilometers (2,500 square miles). Their northern border was along the Lady Forrest Range. To the west, their land reached Mount Broome and followed the Richenda River. It went as far as the Granite Range and Mount Percy.
The southeastern border was along the Oscar Range, reaching Brooking Springs. Their country also included Geikie Gorge and the headwaters of Stony Creek in the northeast. The Bunuba also controlled the eastern part of the Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges. However, the Ngarinjin people later took control of that area before European settlers arrived.
History of Contact with Europeans
When European settlers began moving into their lands, pastoralists (people who raise livestock) wanted the government to remove Indigenous people from their properties. However, some settlers would still hire Indigenous people during the dry season.
Jandamarra's Resistance
A resistance movement began in the mid-1890s. A Bunuba leader named Jandamarra, also called "Pigeon," led this movement. From his base in Tunnel Creek in the Oscar Ranges, he organized attacks against the cattle and sheep farmers.
Jandamarra himself had previously worked with European authorities. He had helped them track down an earlier Bunuba resistance leader named Ellemarra. Later, a police crackdown led to many conflicts and the scattering of communities. Some Gooniyandi people were also affected.
Jandamarra was killed in 1897. Even after his death, occasional attacks on livestock continued. Sadly, difficult times for the Indigenous population also continued, with some conflicts reported as late as the 1930s.
Bunuba in Modern Times
The Bunuba people have worked to regain control of their traditional lands. In 1991, they bought Leopold Downs and Fairfield Downs stations. These properties cover a large area of about 5,700 square kilometers (2,200 square miles).
In 2012, the Bunuba faced challenges with their cattle market. They made an agreement with the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo). Under this agreement, AACo manages the cattle operations. The Bunuba receive an annual payment and training opportunities. They also have full access to their lands. This agreement helps ensure the Bunuba people benefit from their land while preserving their cultural connection to it.
Alternative Names
- Bunaba
- Punamba (a name given by the Ngarinjin people)
- Kunamba (a disrespectful name, meaning "dung")
- Bunapa, Booneba
Famous Bunuba People
- Jandamarra: He led one of the few organized armed rebellions against European settlement in Australia.
- June Oscar: She won the 2018 National NAIDOC "Person of the Year" award for her important work.
