Koara facts for kids

The Koara people, also known as Kuwarra, are an Aboriginal Australian group. They traditionally live in the Kuwarra Western Desert area of Western Australia. This land stretches across parts of the Pilbara, Mid West, and Goldfields-Esperance regions.

Today, many Kuwarra people live in towns like Meekatharra, Cue, and Wiluna. These towns are in the Mid West region.

Koara Traditional Lands

The Koara people's traditional lands covered a large area. It was about 18,100 square miles (46,879 square kilometers). Their land reached from Mount Morgans and Leonora in the east. It went west to Mount Ida, including Lake Barlee and Sandstone.

To the north, their land reached Gidgee, Mount Sir Samuel, and Lake Darlot. The eastern edge was near Mount Zephyr. The Koara shared borders with other Aboriginal groups. These included the Watjarri and Badimaya to the west. To the east and northeast were the Ngaanyatjarra, Martu people, and Mantjiltjarra peoples.

Koara History and Changes

Before Europeans arrived, there were likely several hundred Koara people. By 1980, only about 60 people had Koara family connections. The Koara way of life changed a lot over time. This happened because many people moved into their lands.

First, there were gold rushes in the 1890s. Later, uranium was found in the 1960s and 70s. These events brought many new people. This made it hard for the Koara to keep their traditional ways.

Impact on Families

The government had a sad practice for many years. They took Aboriginal children from their families. These children were then raised away from their culture. This made it very hard for Koara families to pass on their traditions.

Sometimes, Koara families tried to protect their children. They would rub them with charcoal ash. This made the children look like they were full Aboriginal. If a farmer said an Aboriginal person worked for them, they might be safe. These forced removals of children happened until the late 1970s.

Working Conditions and Rules

Many Koara people found work on farms. But they were often forced to work for very little pay. A law was even passed to keep white people away from Aboriginal groups. They had to stay at least 100 meters away.

During World War II, some Koara tried to join the army. They hoped to escape the harsh farm work. But farm owners could stop them. They would say the workers were needed on their farms.

Another law in 1940 made it harder for Aboriginal people to travel. They could not cross south of a certain line (the 20th parallel). They needed a signed health paper and government permission. This greatly limited their freedom to move.

Citizenship Challenges

A law in 1944 allowed Aboriginal people to become citizens. This law lasted until 1971. But there was a difficult rule. To become a citizen, an Aboriginal person had to agree not to spend time with other Aboriginal people. The only exception was their close family. This meant they had to give up their community connections.

Other Names for Koara People

• Go:ara, Goara
• Guwara
• Konindja (a name used by eastern tribes)
• Konindjara
• Waula ("northerners" - a name used by the Waljen people)