Wakaman facts for kids
The Wakaman (also spelled Wagaman) are an Indigenous Australian people from the state of Queensland, Australia. They are one of the many First Nations groups who have lived on this land for thousands of years. Some experts believe they might be the same group as the Ewamin people.
Where the Wakaman People Lived
The Wakaman people traditionally lived in the savannah areas, which are like grasslands with scattered trees. Their lands were near the start of the Lynd River. To the north, their country reached places like Mungana and the area around Chillagoe.
East of their lands was the Great Dividing Range, stretching as far as Almaden. To the west, their territory was around Dagworth. In the south, their land was near Mount Surprise. They also lived in places like Crystalbrook and Bolwarra. According to Norman Tindale, a researcher, their traditional lands covered about 4,800 square miles (12,432 square kilometers).
How the Wakaman People Organized Themselves
The Wakaman people lived in different groups or clans. These groups helped organize their community and daily life. We know the names of at least two of these groups:
- Okenyika
- Tjapatja
Other Names for the Wakaman People
Over time, the Wakaman people have been known by several different names. These names might have been used by other groups or recorded differently by researchers. Some of these names include:
- Wagaman
- Wakkamon
- Warkaman, Warkeeman, Warkeemin
- Warkamin, Warkemon, Warkeemon
- Wataman
- Okenyika
- Tjapatja
