Kooma facts for kids
The Kooma are an important group of Indigenous Australian people. They are descendants of tribes who lived in the border region between Queensland and New South Wales. The Kooma people are connected to the Koamu people.
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Kooma Country: Their Home
The Kooma people say their ancestors lived upstream and to the east of the Kunja people. This area includes parts of Nebine Creek and the Culgoa River. They call their home yumba, which means "camp" but also "home." The Murra Murra station is a very special place for them.
Kooma Land and Neighbors
The larger area where the Kooma people lived stretches beyond the middle of the Nebine Creek. It includes the Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo, and Wilson rivers. Other Indigenous groups in this wider region included the Bitjara, Kalili, Wangkumara, Kunggari, and Muruwari peoples.
Recognizing Kooma Native Title
On Kooma country, a special meeting of the Federal Court of Australia took place in Bollon, south-west Queensland. This meeting successfully marked the resolution of the Kooma people's claim for native title. This means their traditional rights and interests in the land were officially acknowledged.
The Area of Kooma Native Title
The land recognized for the Kooma People covers about 2,950 square kilometers. This is in the south-west part of Queensland. It is located within the Maranoa, Balonne, Murweh, and Paroo local government areas. This country includes the Bendee Downs and Murra Murra pastoral properties, as well as other areas around Bollon. It stretches from the town of Wyandra in the north-west, south to the Culgoa River, and east-west from Wideegoara Creek to Belingra. This land is very important for the Kooma People's culture, spirituality, and history. It was central to their efforts to have their native title recognized.
Kooma Mythology: Dreamtime Stories
The Kooma people's traditional stories about creation and the spiritual world are called Matya Mundu. This is similar to what other Indigenous Australians call the dreamtime.
The Rainbow Serpent's Journey
One important story tells about the rainbow serpent. As it moved along the Warrego River, it created waterholes. These waterholes were then filled with fish like yellow-belly, catfish, and cod. This story shows how the land and its creatures were formed in their beliefs.
