Wik peoples facts for kids

The Wik peoples are an Indigenous Australian group. They live in a large area on the western side of Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland, Australia. They speak several different languages.

Their traditional lands stretch along the coastal flood plains next to the Gulf of Carpentaria. This area is between Pormpuraaw (which used to be called Edward River) and Weipa. Inland, their country includes forests drained by the Archer, Kendall, and Holroyd rivers.

One of the first people to study the Wik peoples was an anthropologist named Ursula McConnel. She did her research with groups living at the Archer River Mission, now known as Aurukun.

Where the Wik Peoples Live

The Wik peoples traditionally lived along the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula. To their north were the Winduwinda people, and to their south were the Taior people. The Wik-Mungkan lived on their eastern side.

Ursula McConnel's studies helped map out their lands. She described how they lived along the Gulf of Carpentaria, in an area about 30 to 50 miles wide. Rivers like the Watson, Archer, Kendall, Holroyd, and Edward flow through this land.

The Wik-Mungkan, for example, lived inland. Their territory covered about 3,000 square miles. They did not live right on the coast. Instead, other related Wik groups lived along the coast.

McConnel's research in 1930 identified several Wik groups:

• The Wik-Mungkan were the largest group. They lived inland, near the Kokiala and Kaantju to the north. The Ayapathu were to their east, and the Koko Taiyari were south of the Edward River.
• The Wiknantjara lived on the coast from the Edward River to the Kendall River. They were also known as Ngandjara.
• The Wiknatanja were a coastal group, sometimes called the "bush-rat people." They lived near the mouths of the Kendall River, covering about 300 square miles (780 km²).
• The Wikmean lived further north and inland from Cape Keerweer.
• The Wikepa also had lands near Cape Keerweer, covering about 300 square miles (780 km²).
• The Wik-kalkan lived on the coast. Their territory was estimated to be about 300 square miles (780 km²).
• The Wikapatja had about 100 square miles (260 km²) of land. This included the mangrove islands in the Archer River delta.
• The Wikampama lived on the Watson River. By 1930, many of them had moved to the Aurukun Mission Station.

All these groups were included in Norman Tindale's 1974 classification of Indigenous peoples. Later, in 1997, Neva Collings noted that the Wik group included peoples like Wik-Ompom, Wik-Paacha, Wik-Thinta, Wik-Ngathara, Wik-Epa, Wik-Me'anha, Wik-Ngathara, Wik-Nganychara, and Wik-Iiyanh.

A Look at Wik History

When Europeans first started settling in northern Queensland, Indigenous peoples, including the Wik, faced very difficult times. Some settlers had very negative views, seeing them as less important. This led to many challenges and unfair treatment for the Wik peoples.

Winning Native Title Rights

The Wik Peoples achieved a very important victory in a court case. This case officially recognized their native title rights. Native title means that Indigenous peoples have special rights to their traditional lands and waters.

The High Court of Australia later decided that native title rights could exist at the same time as a pastoral lease. A pastoral lease is when someone rents land from the government to use for farming or raising animals. This was a big step in recognizing Indigenous land rights.

See also

• Wik Peoples v Queensland
• Koowarta v Bjelke-Petersen
• Wik languages
• Wild Rivers in Australia