Tanderrum facts for kids
A tanderrum is a special ceremony performed by Aboriginal Australian groups, especially the Kulin people and other Aboriginal nations in Victoria. This ceremony allowed visitors from other groups to travel safely through their land. It also let them use the land and its resources for a short time. It was a way for the landholders to show kindness to guests. They would also exchange gifts as part of this important meeting. Some people called it "Freedom of the Bush."
What Happens in a Tanderrum?
When visitors arrived, they were introduced to the elders (respected older people) by a group known to both sides. During the ceremony, Eucalypt leaves were used. These leaves showed that the visitors were welcome to use the land's resources.
Water was also shared from a special wooden bowl called a tarnuk. People would sip the water using a reed straw. The hosts would drink first. This was to show the visitors that the water was safe and not poisoned.
Tanderrum and Early Settlers
Some historians believe that the signing of Batman's Treaty in 1835 was seen as a tanderrum ceremony by the Wurundjeri and Boon wurrung peoples. This treaty was an agreement between John Batman and Aboriginal elders.
For the first few years after the Foundation of Melbourne (when the city of Melbourne was started), the Wurundjeri and Boon wurrung people continued to be welcoming to the new settlers. However, other Aboriginal nations fought back because their lands were being taken away.
In 1845, William Thomas, who was an Assistant Protector of Aborigines for the Port Phillip District, wrote about a tanderrum ceremony performed by the Wurundjeri people.
Tanderrum Today
Today, Wurundjeri elders still perform tanderrum ceremonies. Sometimes, these ceremonies are part of a Welcome to Country event. A Welcome to Country is a special ceremony performed by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. It welcomes visitors to their traditional land.
Tanderrum in Art
An Indigenous Australian artist named Ellen Jose created a sculpture called Tanderrum in 1997. It is located at the Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park. She worked with Wurundjeri elder Joy Murphy on this artwork.
National Parks describe the sculpture:
Tanderrum (coming together) brings together concepts of pride, culture and spirit and the work symbolises the coming together of the Kulin nation as one people. It links the symbols and Legends of the Dreaming with ancestral bird spirits and totems of the five clan groups.
