Wonnarua facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wonnarua people |
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| aka: Wonnuaruah/Wonarua/Wannerawa | |
Hunter Region bioregion
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| Hierarchy | |
| Language family: | Pama–Nyungan |
| Language branch: | Yuin–Kuric |
| Language group: | (??) |
| Group dialects: | Hunter River and Lake Macquarie Language (Awabakal-Wanarruwa) |
| Area (approx. 5,200 sq. km) | |
| Bioregion: | Hunter Region |
| Location: | Upper Hunter Valley, New South Wales |
| Coordinates: | 32°35′S 150°50′E / 32.583°S 150.833°E |
| Mountains: | |
| Rivers |
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| Other geological: | Yengo National Park |
| Notable individuals | |
| Jackey Jackey | |
The Wonnarua people are an Aboriginal Australian group. They lived in family groups across the inland area of what is now the Upper Hunter Valley in New South Wales, Australia. They were connected by strong family ties. Their special creation spirit is Baiami, also called Koin. Baiami is believed to have created everything and is the "Keeper of the Valley".
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What Language Did They Speak?
The exact origins of the Wonnarua language are not fully known. However, experts who study languages group similar dialects together. They call this group the "language of the Hunter River/Lake Macquarie" (HRLM). This name describes where the language was spoken, not the name of the language itself. This language area stretched from north of the Hawkesbury–MacDonald River to south of the Lower North Coast language. The exact borders of these language groups are still being studied.
Where Did the Wonnarua Live?
The Wonnarua people lived on their traditional lands, which covered about 5,200 square kilometers (2,000 square miles). This area stretched from the Upper Hunter River above Maitland, west to the Great Dividing Range, and towards Wollombi.
The Wonnarua shared borders with other Aboriginal groups:
- To the north: the Geawegal people.
- To the north-east: the Worimi peoples.
- To the south-east: the Awabakal people.
- To the south: the Darkinung people.
- To the west: the Wiradjuri people.
The Wonnarua also traded and held ceremonies with the Kamilaroi people.
How Many Wonnarua People Were There?
When Europeans first arrived, it is thought that about 500 Wonnarua people lived in the area.
The Gringai were a clan, or family group, of the Worimi people. Their traditional lands were near Dungog.
What Is Native Title?
Native title is a legal right that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have to their traditional lands and waters. This right comes from their traditional laws and customs.
In 2013, a native title claim was made for the Plains Clans of the Wonnarua People. This claim covered a large area of about 9,500 square kilometers (3,668 square miles). It included the rivers coming from the Barringtons and areas like Singleton, Muswellbrook, Dungog, and Maitland.
The claim was registered in 2015. However, it was later stopped in 2020. This happened because there were disagreements with other Aboriginal groups who also claimed native title in the same area. An expert was asked to help resolve these different views. The expert's report suggested that some parts of the claim were not fully supported by the evidence.
Famous Wonnarua People
- Jackey Jackey – He was a guide and companion for the surveyor Edmund Kennedy on his expeditions.
- Charles Frederick Maynard – He was an activist who worked for Aboriginal rights.
Other Names for Wonnarua
The Wonnarua people are also known by these names:
- Wannerawa
- Wonnah
- Wonnuaruah or Wonarua
