Mistake Creek massacre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mistake Creek massacre |
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|---|---|
| Part of Australian frontier conflicts | |
| Location | Mistake Creek, East Kimberley, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 16°55′37″S 128°14′31″E / 16.927°S 128.242°E |
| Date | Early 1915 |
| Target | Gija people |
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Attack type
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Mass shooting |
| Weapons |
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| Deaths | at least 8 |
| Victims | at least 8 |
| Assailants | Michael Ratigan and two of his Aboriginal employees |
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Number of participants
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3 attackers and up to 35 Gija people |
| Motive |
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The Mistake Creek massacre was a terrible event where many Indigenous Australians were killed. It happened in Western Australia in 1915. This event is part of the sad history of conflicts between European settlers and Aboriginal people in Australia.
Contents
What Happened at Mistake Creek?
On March 28, 1915, a group of Gija people were shot and killed at Mistake Creek. Estimates say between 8 and 32 people died. Their bodies were also burned.
It is not completely clear who was responsible for this attack. However, many believe it was Michael "Mick" Rhatigan, a former police officer. Two of his Aboriginal employees, Jim Wynne and Nipper, are also thought to have been involved. Rhatigan had been part of other attacks on Aboriginal people before.
According to the Gija people's oral history, the attack happened because Rhatigan wrongly believed a cow had been stolen. He thought members of the camp had killed and eaten one of his milking cows. The Gija stories say Rhatigan was directly involved, with Wynne and Nipper helping him. Some stories suggest Wynne might have encouraged the attack due to a disagreement over a woman.
What Happened After?
After the massacre, Rhatigan and Nipper were arrested. Jim Wynne was shot and killed by police when he tried to escape.
A special investigation, called a coroner's inquest, was held. This investigation cleared Rhatigan of any wrongdoing. Nipper was ordered to face a trial for the murder of eight people. Wynne's death was ruled as "justifiable," meaning the police officer was allowed to shoot him.
Later, Nipper was found not guilty at his trial and was set free. He then worked at the police stables in Perth. Rhatigan continued his job as a telegraph linesman until he died in 1920.
Different Ideas About the Past
Sometimes, historians and others have different ideas about what happened in the past. This is true for the Mistake Creek massacre too.
In 2001, there was a discussion about the event. Some people, like historian Keith Windschuttle, suggested that no Europeans were involved in the massacre. He thought it was mainly a fight between Aboriginal people that got out of hand. He believed Wynne and Nipper were the only ones involved.
However, other historians, like Cathie Clement, strongly disagreed. She said that Windschuttle's information was wrong. She also pointed out that the Gija people's oral history, passed down through generations, clearly states that Rhatigan was involved. Today, oral histories and visual stories from Aboriginal people are seen as very important sources for understanding history.
The Massacre in Art
The Gija people from the Warmun community have created artworks to show the massacre. This helps them remember and share their history.
A famous Aboriginal artist named Queenie McKenzie painted a picture about the massacre. The National Museum of Australia bought this painting in 2005. For a while, it was not shown because some people claimed the event "never occurred." However, in July 2020, the painting was finally put on display. It is now part of a new exhibition called Talking Blak to History at the Museum.
See also
- List of massacres of Indigenous Australians
