James Unaipon facts for kids
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James Unaipon, born James Ngunaitponi, was an important Indigenous Australian leader. He was a preacher from the Warrawaldie Lakalinyeri clan of the Ngarrindjeri people. He lived from about 1835 to 1907.
Early Life and Name
James Unaipon was born with the name James Ngunaitponi. When he was baptised, he took the name James Reid. This was to honor the Scottish Free Church minister who baptised him.
In 1865, James Reid was sponsored by the Aborigines' Friends' Association. He went to train as a missionary at the Point McLeay Mission. This mission was located near Lake Alexandrina in the Coorong region of South Australia.
After arriving at Point McLeay, James Unaipon started using his birth name, Ngunaitponi, again. However, European people often changed his name in their letters. They made it sound more English, calling him Unaipon.
Family and Community
On July 27, 1866, James Unaipon married Nymbulda. She was the daughter of Pullum, also known as King Peter. Pullum was the Rupelle of the Ramindjeri people.
A Rupelle was a leader chosen by the Indigenous Tendi, which was like their government. The colonists, however, misunderstood this role. They thought "Rupelle" meant "King" and that the position was passed down through families.
Because of this misunderstanding, a reverend named George Taplin promoted Nymbulda as a queen. He believed that a missionary connected to royalty would be more helpful in teaching the Ngarrindjeri people about Christianity. But being a Rupelle did not give extra status to his family in the Ngarrindjeri community.
Contributions and Legacy
James Unaipon was a very important figure. He helped write about the Ngarrindjeri language. This work helped to preserve the language for future generations.
He was also the first Aboriginal deacon in Australia. A deacon is a person who helps a minister in a Christian church.
James Unaipon was the father of David Unaipon. David Unaipon became a famous Australian inventor and writer. He is known for his many ideas and for being featured on the Australian fifty-dollar banknote.
