Midgegooroo facts for kids
Midgegooroo was an important Aboriginal elder from the Nyungar nation. He lived in the area now known as Perth, Western Australia. Midgegooroo played a big part in the Aboriginal people's efforts to resist the arrival of white settlers.
Most of what we know about Midgegooroo comes from the writings of the settlers. Some of these writers, like G.F. Moore and Robert Menli Lyon, learned about him from talking to Noongar people. Midgegooroo's son, Yagan, was especially helpful. Yagan is often more well-known in history than his father, partly because of his own actions against the settlers.
Midgegooroo was captured and executed by a firing squad in 1833. This happened without a proper trial, under the orders of Lieutenant Governor Frederick Irwin.
Early Life and Role
We don't know much about Midgegooroo's life before the first white settlers arrived in 1829. At that time, he was a leader of his home country, Beeliar. This land stretched from the Indian Ocean to the Canning River, south of the Swan River.
Midgegooroo's family had rights to use resources across a large part of what is now Perth. They could also move freely in an even bigger area. This was likely because they had family connections with neighbouring groups. For example, he was sometimes seen near Lake Monger and the Helena River.
In 1830, Midgegooroo was described as an older man. He was short with long hair and a noticeable bump on his forehead. He seemed to keep his distance from the settlers. Unlike some other Aboriginal leaders, Midgegooroo never worked for the settlers. He continued to move around Beeliar with his wives and children. He was known for being strongly against the Europeans being on his land.
Midgegooroo had at least two wives and four sons. His sons included Yagan, Narral, Billy, and Willim. He also had at least one brother. He spent a lot of his time looking after the women and children of his group.
Clashes with Settlers
When the Swan River colony was first settled, the Noongar people often showed their unhappiness. At first, they used warnings and strong actions. But over time, this grew into more serious clashes.
In June 1829, Governor Sir James Stirling said that Aboriginal people were protected by British laws. He warned that settlers who harmed them would be punished. However, the first ten years of the colony saw a lot of violence. Many Europeans and Aboriginal people died. Historians believe that far more Aboriginal people died than Europeans.
Midgegooroo likely saw the first British explorers in 1827. He would also have seen the founding of Fremantle and Perth in 1829. His first mention in colonial records might have been in May 1830. An old man, possibly Midgegooroo, was beaten by soldiers after turkeys were taken from a farm. If this was him, he would have experienced European violence early on.
In December 1830, Midgegooroo was camping near Lake Monger. Two white workers tried to shake hands with some Aboriginal women. When the men returned later, Midgegooroo scared them away by threatening one with a spear.
In February 1831, Midgegooroo visited a store in Fremantle. He was given biscuits but wanted more. When a servant tried to make him leave, Midgegooroo threw a spear. He later picked up a pickaxe and threatened the servant with it.
A few weeks later, Midgegooroo was involved in an event that led to his execution. An Aboriginal man was killed after taking potatoes and a fowl from a farm. In response, Midgegooroo and Yagan attacked the farm. A servant named Erin Entwhistle died during this attack. Erin's son, Ralph, who was about ten, later said that Yagan threw the first spear and Midgegooroo threw the second. He recognized Midgegooroo by the bump on his forehead.
In May 1833, a jury heard Ralph Entwhistle's story. They were so convinced that Midgegooroo was involved that they asked the government to declare him and his group outlaws.
Midgegooroo continued to have conflicts with settlers. He tried to break into a house in Fremantle and steal food from a sawpit on the Canning River. He also set his dingos on a settler's pigs. A police officer named Thomas Hunt said Midgegooroo often acted as a spy or encouraged others to steal.
In May 1832, Yagan was arrested for the death of William Gaze. This led to Yagan being declared an outlaw. He was sent to Carnac Island but later escaped.
In April 1833, an incident in Fremantle led to Midgegooroo and Yagan being declared outlaws. An Aboriginal man named Domjun was shot and killed while breaking into a store. The next morning, Yagan and others crossed the Swan River. They said they were going to the Canning River to "spear white man."
Later that day, Yagan, Midgegooroo, and about 30 other Aboriginal people met some white men loading supplies near the Canning River. Midgegooroo asked how many men were in the first cart that had already left. The Aboriginal group then followed the carts. They attacked the carts and killed the two drivers, John and Thomas Velvick. Mr. Phillips, the owner of the carts, saw Yagan during the attack.
Lieutenant Governor Frederick Irwin said that this attack clearly linked the group to the man shot in Fremantle. He noted that Midgegooroo, Yagan's father, was the leader of this group. Irwin immediately decided to take strong action. He offered a reward for the capture, "dead or alive," of Yagan, Midgegooroo, and Munday. He declared them outlaws, meaning they were no longer protected by British laws. Settlers were allowed to capture them.
Capture and Execution
Midgegooroo was captured and executed soon after. The Secretary of State in London criticized Irwin's actions. He thought imprisonment would have been better than execution for improving relations.
The search for Midgegooroo, Yagan, and Munday began quickly. Military groups and settlers searched the area. One group found and pursued some Aboriginal people. They shot and killed one man, believed to be Midgegooroo's brother.
Midgegooroo was staying near the Drummonds' property on the Helena River. He was looking after the women and children. He seemed unaware that he was an outlaw. On May 16, a military group found Midgegooroo and his young son. Midgegooroo tried to escape but was captured. He struggled and called out for Yagan.
Midgegooroo was taken to jail. The Perth Gazette newspaper asked citizens to come forward with evidence against him. Governor Irwin considered what to do. Some people wanted Midgegooroo executed, while others thought he should be sent away.
Irwin said he carefully reviewed statements from several witnesses. These witnesses identified Midgegooroo as the man involved in various incidents. Irwin decided that execution was the only way to protect the colony from an enemy who seemed very hostile and was an important leader.
On May 22, Midgegooroo was executed. The Perth Gazette described the event: "Midgegooroo, on seeing that preparations were making to punish him, yelled and struggled most violently to escape. These efforts availed him little, in less than five minutes he was pinioned and blindfolded, and bound to the outer door of the Jail." A military party then fired, and Midgegooroo fell. The whole event took less than half an hour.
Many people watched the execution. The newspaper said most people felt satisfied.
Aftermath
Few, if any, Aboriginal people were present at the execution. Midgegooroo's young son, "Billy," who was between five and eight years old, was taken away. He was kept from hearing about his father's death. Irwin hoped the boy could be raised in a "civilized" way and not return to his traditional life.
The Noongar people seemed unaware of Midgegooroo's fate for a while. This might have been to prevent the news from reaching Yagan. Four days after the execution, Yagan met G.F. Moore. Yagan asked about his father. Moore hid the truth, and Yagan said if his father was killed, he would kill three white men in return. News of the killing eventually reached the Noongar community.
The colonists killed Yagan on July 11. Sixteen-year-old James Keats killed him and collected the reward. The Perth Gazette expressed satisfaction at the deaths. However, some colonists, like Robert Lyon, disagreed with the government's actions. Other Australian colonies also criticized Midgegooroo's execution. The Hobart Town Review called it a "cruel murder."
Irwin believed his actions had worked. He said that after these events, the Aboriginal people on the Swan and Canning Rivers became more peaceful.
After Yagan's death, Munday approached the Governor to make peace. His outlaw status was removed. In September 1833, Munday and Migo met with the Governor. With an interpreter, they said they wanted a peace treaty. They asked if white people would shoot any more of their people. They were told no, unless they stole.
Migo and Munday then listed 16 Aboriginal people who had been killed and many more wounded. They said the death of Domjun, who was shot for stealing flour, was not fair. They also said it was wrong to endanger others for one person's actions. They explained that they only attacked the Velvicks because the Velvicks had treated them badly before.
Migo and Munday also described Midgegooroo's arrest. They heard his cries and followed the group who took him. They wanted to know the names of the soldiers who shot him and asked about his son. Midgegooroo's wives showed their grief by scratching themselves.
The Governor suggested a meeting of all the Swan and Canning people. Munday and Migo said this would have to wait until the "yellow season" (December-February). After the meeting, they shared the news with their group.
The newspaper noted that Aboriginal people were able to tell their side of the story for the first time. Even the Gazette, which had supported harsh punishments, admitted that the Aboriginal people had a point. Justice in the Swan River Colony was not always fair.
The colonial government did not intend to share their land with the Aboriginal people. Instead, Aboriginal people became dependent on government food supplies. This began a long history of Aboriginal people losing their lands and freedoms in Western Australia. The deaths of Midgegooroo and Yagan shocked the Noongar people. However, violence and robbery continued for some years.
Midgegooroo's land rights passed to his son Yagan, then to his other son Narral. Munday took responsibility for Midgegooroo's older wife, and his younger wife Ganiup became the wife of another Noongar man named Dommera.
Legacy
In June 2008, the Canning National Park was renamed to Midgegooroo National Park.
See also
