Kuungkari facts for kids
The Kuungkari are an Indigenous Australian people from Queensland, Australia. They are different from another group called the Kunggari. The Kuungkari have a rich history and culture, living on their traditional lands for thousands of years.
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What Their Name Means
The word Kuungkari (pronounced like "koong-ger-ree") means "dry." This name was noted by an early settler, J. Heagney. It likely relates to the dry lands where the Kuungkari people lived.
Where the Kuungkari Lived
The Kuungkari people lived on a large area of land, covering about 14,000 square miles (36,000 km²). This area had many open grasslands. They lived near the eastern side of the Thomson River and also along the Cooper (Barcoo) rivers.
Their traditional lands stretched far and wide:
- To the west, their land reached Jundah.
- In the north, it went up to Westland and near Longreach.
- To the east, their country included places like Avington, Blackall, and Terrick Terrick.
- The southern part of their land went from the Grey Range through to Cheviot Range, Powell Creek, and Welford.
How They Organized Their Society
The Kuungkari people lived in groups called hordes. These were like smaller family or community groups that made up the larger tribe. There were at least five of these groups:
- Torraburri
- Yankibura
- Mokaburra
A Brief History of Contact
European settlers started moving into the Kuungkari lands around 1874 to 1878. At that time, it's thought that about 1,200 people lived in this area, including the Kuungkari and another group called the Bidia.
By 1883, the arrival of settlers had a very difficult impact on the Kuungkari people. Their population decreased significantly, and there were more women than men.
Other Names for the Kuungkari
Over time, the Kuungkari people have been known by several different names, including:
- Koonkerri
- Kunggari
- Kungeri, Koongerri
- Yangeeberra
- Tarawalla (This was a name used for an eastern dialect, or way of speaking, of their language).
