Yalukit facts for kids

The Yalukit or Yalukit-willam people are an important clan of the Boonwurrung peoples. They were the first Aboriginal people to live in the central bay-side area of Melbourne, which they called Birrarung-ga. The Yalukit have lived in this area for thousands of years.

Where the Yalukit Lived

The traditional lands of the Yalukit people stretched from the Werribee River in the west. Their territory went east through places like Williamstown, Sandridge, and St Kilda.

What Does 'Yalukit' Mean?

The name Yalukit-willam means 'river home' or 'people of the river'. This name refers to the important Yarra and Maribyrnong River in their country.

Daily Life of the Yalukit People

The Yalukit people had many skills for living off the land. They made their own tools and collected ochre, a natural pigment. They also used a special method called fire-stick farming. This involved carefully burning parts of the land. This helped new plants grow and attracted animals for hunting.

The area that is now central Melbourne was a very important meeting place. It was used by the wider Kulin nation for many activities. These included social gatherings, special ceremonies, and trading goods.

Family and Community

Yalukit people belonged to the Bundjil moiety. This meant they had to marry someone from the Waa moiety, a different group. When a Yalukit woman married, she would often move to live with her husband's clan.

The Yalukit people were skilled hunters and gatherers. They hunted animals like kangaroos, birds, and eels. They also caught other seafood. They gathered edible plants, such as wattle gum. Both men and women were capable hunters. The daily work to find food and care for the clan often took only about five hours a day. Food was always shared fairly with everyone in the clan, especially those who needed help.

Making Decisions

Important decisions for the clan were made by a group of senior leaders. This council would meet to talk about big issues. These included moving the clan to a new area or dealing with other Aboriginal groups. They also helped solve disagreements between people.

As winter came, the clan would move to higher, drier areas. This helped them avoid floods from the rivers.

Clothing and Decorations

Yalukit clothing was made from animal skins and furs. They used possum and kangaroo skins. They also wove materials from plants. People kept their hair long and decorated it with claws, animal teeth, and other items. They might pierce their ears and nose with animal bones. They also painted their faces with ochre for ceremonies or daily life.

Yalukit Place Names in Melbourne

Some places in Melbourne still have names from the Yalukit language:

• Williamstown: This area was known as Kertbooruc or Koort-boork-boork. This means 'a clump of she-oak trees'.
• Kororoit Creek: The name Kororoit comes from the word for male kangaroo, kure.