Djiru people facts for kids
The Djiru (also spelled Jirru) are an Aboriginal Australian people. Their traditional lands are along the coast of Northern Queensland. This area is mainly around Mission Beach.
Djiru Language
The Djiru language is a special way of speaking. It is a dialect of the Dyirbal language. A dialect is like a different version of a language.
Djiru Country
The Djiru people live in the rainforest. They traditionally lived in a large part of the coastal area. This area is now called the Cassowary Coast. Their lands covered about 260 square kilometres (100 square miles). This was around Clump Point. It stretched north to Murdering Point. Their land also went south to the mouth of the Tully River.
Djiru History
When European settlers arrived, there were conflicts. For example, in 1872, a ship called the "Maria" was shipwrecked. A search party looked for survivors. Sadly, this led to conflict with the Djiru people. Their homes were destroyed during this time.
Later, a special settlement was built on Djiru land. It was called the Hull River Aboriginal Settlement. This happened at Mission Beach in 1914. Aboriginal people from different areas were moved there. This was done under a law that aimed to "protect" them. However, it also controlled their lives. A very big cyclone destroyed the settlement in 1918. People who survived were moved to another place. This new place was a reserve on Great Palm Island.
Last Speakers
Some of the last people to speak the Djiru language were Joe Jamboree and Pompey Clumppoint. Pompey was from Clump Point, which is across from Dunk Island.
Other Names for Djiru
The Djiru people are also known by other names:
- Djirubagala
- Dyirubagala
- Dyiru
- Gerrah
- Gillah
- Iimba
