Wiri people facts for kids
The Wiri were an Aboriginal Australian people. They lived in an area on the eastern side of Queensland, a state in Australia. The Wiri people spoke a language called Wiri, which was a dialect of the Biri language. It was also known as Widi.
Wiri Country and Land
The Wiri people's traditional lands covered about 5,200 square kilometres (2,000 sq mi). This area stretched from the Coast Range, east of the coastal city of Mackay. It went inland to places like Nebo and the start of the Bowen and Suttor rivers. Their land included the Connor and Denham mountain ranges.
Most of the Wiri territory was covered in 'rainscrub', which is a type of dense bushland. Towards the west, the land became drier.
Looking After the Land
A group called the Traditional Owner Reference Group helps look after the land. This group includes people from the Wiri and other Aboriginal groups. These groups are the Yuwibara, Koinmerburra, Barada Barna, Ngaro, Gia, and Juru people. Their lands are all within the Reef Catchments Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region.
This group works to manage natural resources and protect important cultural heritage sites. These sites are very special and meaningful to Aboriginal people.
Wiri Language
The Wiri people spoke a language also called Wiri. It is a dialect of the Biri language. You might also see the Wiri language spelled in different ways. These include Wirri, Widi, Wierdi, Wirdi, Witi, and sometimes Gongolo.
Other Names for Wiri
- Widi
- Wierdi
