Patyegarang facts for kids
Patyegarang (born around the 1780s) was an amazing Aboriginal woman from the Cammeraygal clan of the Eora nation. She is famous for teaching her language to William Dawes, an early British colonist. Patyegarang (pronounced Pa-te-ga-rang) was one of the very first people to share an Aboriginal language with newcomers in New South Wales.
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Meeting the Colonists
Patyegarang was about 15 years old when she became a guide and language teacher for William Dawes. Dawes was a lieutenant in the Royal Marines. He was also an astronomer, mathematician, and linguist. He arrived in Australia with the First Fleet on the ship HMS Sirius. William Dawes became friends with the local Cadigal people, and that is how he met Patyegarang. He often called her "Patye."
Learning and Documenting Language
William Dawes was the first person to write down an Australian Aboriginal language. Patyegarang taught Dawes the Dharug or Eora language, which was spoken by the Cadigal people and other tribes. This language is sometimes called the Sydney language.
Together, Patyegarang and Dawes created the first detailed study of an Australian Indigenous language. They wrote down many words, grammar rules, and common phrases. This important work happened during Dawes' three years in the colony.
Three of William Dawes' notebooks still exist today. These special language notebooks were found by an Australian librarian named Phyllis Mander-Jones. She discovered them while working at the University of London. The notebooks even include specific words for the sun, moon, and clouds. This shows that Patyegarang knew a lot about the land and sky.
Patyegarang's Close Connection with Dawes
Patyegarang may have lived with William Dawes in his hut at Observatory Point. Some of the words she shared with Dawes show how close their connection was. For example, the word Putuwá means "to warm one's hand by the fire and then to gently squeeze the fingers of another person." This suggests a very friendly and caring relationship.
Patyegarang also learned to speak and read English from Dawes. We don't know exactly how long she stayed with him or what happened to her later in life.
Honoring Patyegarang with a Statue
In 2020, there was a suggestion to the Council of the City of Sydney. The idea was to create a public artwork, like a statue, to remember Patyegarang. The goal was for the council to work with local Aboriginal groups to find the best way to honor her.
Patyegarang in Stories and Art
Patyegarang's story has inspired many artists and writers:
- In 2014, the Bangarra Dance Theatre created a dance show called Patyegarang. It was choreographed by Stephen Page and showed her life and her connection with Dawes.
- Writer Kate Grenville based characters in her novel The Lieutenant on the real-life friendship between Patyegarang and Lieutenant William Dawes.
See also
