Goreng Goreng facts for kids
The Goreng Goreng people, also called Kooreng Gooreng, are an Aboriginal Australian group. They live inland in Queensland, Australia. Their traditional lands are in Central West Queensland. This area stretches from the Boyne Valley west to the Great Dividing Range. It includes the Dawes, Auburn, Nogo, and Callide Ranges.
Their Language
The Goreng Goreng people speak a language called Gurang Gurang. This language is part of the larger Pama-Nyungan language family. The word gurang means "nought" or "nothing". This word was used twice to help identify the people.
Even though they lived near Rockhampton, their language was very similar to languages further south. These include the Wakka Wakka and Gubbi Gubbi languages. This shows they had strong cultural connections with these groups too.
Their Traditional Lands
The exact boundaries of the Goreng Goreng traditional lands have been discussed by historians. In the late 1800s, Walter Roth studied their language. He noted their main camp was at a place called Jiggings.
Another researcher, Norman Tindale, described their land as covering about 6,000 square kilometres (2,300 sq mi). This area included the eastern side of the upper Burnett River. It stretched from Mundubbera north to the Callide Ranges Queensland and east to the Mt Perry Ranges and Many Peaks.
Some people thought there might be two different groups: an inland group (Goreng Goreng) and a coastal group (Goeng Meerooni). However, recent studies suggest that the Goreng Goreng lands included the whole Boyne Valley. They extended to the Auburn, Nogo, Callide, and Cania Ranges. The Dawes Range formed part of their western border. The Goreng Goreng are known as an inland, freshwater people. Their special animal symbol, or totem, is the Emu.
Society and Culture
The Goreng Goreng people were made up of several smaller groups called clans. One of these clans was known as the Wakgun.
Important stories and traditions were passed down through generations. This often happened during special ceremonies called djaparlagin. These were also known as "singing corroborees," where people would gather to sing, dance, and share their culture.
History of Contact
European settlers began to arrive in the Upper Burnett area in the 1840s. As more land was taken for farming and grazing, it became harder for Aboriginal people to find their traditional food sources. This led to conflicts between the settlers and the Goreng Goreng people.
Between 1847 and 1853, there were many clashes. To control the situation, the Native Mounted Police were sent to the Burnett area. Their role was to manage relations between settlers and Aboriginal people.
