Kaantju facts for kids

The Kaantyu people are an Aboriginal Australian group from north Queensland. They live in the area around the town of Coen. Much of their traditional land is now used for cattle stations. The word Kaantju refers to the hook of the yuli, which is their name for a woomera (a tool used to throw spears).

Language of the Kaantyu People

The Kaantyu language is a type of Umpila. It has two main forms, one spoken in the north and another in the south.

Where the Kaantyu Lived

The Kaantyu people lived in the hills of the Great Dividing Range. Their land was along the upper parts of the Archer River and the Watson River to the north. To the south, it reached the Edward River. This area stretched from where the Coen and Archer rivers meet, all the way to the mouth of the Archer. It also included where the Kendall and Holroyd rivers join. Their land covered about 3,000 square miles (7,770 square kilometers).

To their west, the Wik-Natera and Wik-Kalkan tribes lived between them and the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria. To their south, along the Coleman River, were the Bakanu and the Olkola people, who spoke the Kunjen language.

How Kaantyu People Connected with Others

The Kaantyu people often married members of the Wik Ayabadhu group. These people lived on the upper parts of the Holroyd River. The Kaantyu also held special gatherings and ceremonies with the Wik Ayabadhu and the Wik-Mungkan people. These events took place where the Pretender River meets the Holroyd River.

A Look at Kaantyu History

A big change for the Kaantyu and Kokiala tribes happened when the Queensland Cape York telegraph line was built. This line went right through their hunting grounds. While the Kokiala tribe sadly disappeared, the Kaantyu people found ways to survive. They set up camps along the telegraph line, often near cattle stations. Some also moved to parts of the mountain range where they could still hunt and fish peacefully.

Kaantyu Totems and Special Places

The Kaantyu people had a system of totems and ceremonies. A totem is like a special symbol, often an animal or plant, that connects a person or group to nature and their ancestors.

Early information about the Kaantyu's ceremonies was gathered by a researcher named Ursula McConnel. She spoke with two older members of the tribe. At that time, the Kaantyu's traditional way of life had already changed a lot. This was due to settlers taking over their lands for cattle stations.

The Kaantyu's totem system was similar to that of the Wik-Mungkan. They performed ceremonies to help nature renew its resources. For example, they believed that if they performed a ritual for rock-cod fish, these fish would become plentiful in all the creeks and rivers. This would ensure the tribe had enough food.

The elders told McConnel about two special ceremonial sites, called auwa, near Coen. One was on Emily Creek, about six miles from the town. The other was very close to the police station. The site at Emily Creek was important for the red kangaroo totem. It had a long line of upright stones, some small and some as tall as 2 to 3 feet.