Yiman people facts for kids

The Yiman people, also known as Iman today, are an Aboriginal Australian group. They have lived for a very long time in the Upper Dawson River area. This region is found near Taroom in eastern Central Queensland.

Language of the Yiman People

We know very little about the Yiman language. This is because it was thought that the Yiman people had disappeared before anyone could write down their words. However, the Yiman people are still here today.

Yiman Society and Culture

The Yiman people have continued their way of life for thousands of years. While many people might not know much about their social structure, the Yiman community is still strong and growing. Their traditional lands share borders with the areas of other Aboriginal groups. These include the Wuli Wuli, Wadjigu, Garingbul, Gungabula, Mandandanji, and Barunggam language regions.

History of the Yiman

Much of what is written about the Yiman people focuses on a sad event. This event is known as the Hornet Bank massacre. It happened on October 27, 1857. The incident took place at a site called "Goongarry." A Scottish immigrant named Andrew Scott had claimed this area of Yiman land in late 1853.

Scott later leased the property to a shipwright named John Fraser in March 1854. Fraser passed away that same year. His wife, five sons, and four daughters continued the lease. They became friendly with the local Yiman people. This was because they had good experiences with Aboriginal people on other farms. The family also had a tutor, Mr. Neagle.

According to one survivor, Sylvester Fraser, the family was attacked by about 100 tribesmen. Another family member, William Fraser, survived because he was away in Ipswich. It is possible that some Mandandanji people also took part in the attack. Some historians believe the Yiman were part of a larger group of tribes involved.

Conflicts and Their Aftermath

The day after the Hornet Bank incident, a group led by Walter Powell and his native police tracked down some of the people believed to be involved. They killed five and injured others. In another event, Powell and his troops, joined by William Fraser, were involved in more clashes. They killed three men and three women near Carrabah station on November 27.

Days later, this group, now with Second-Lieutenant Robert Walker, killed seven more Aboriginal people near Jundah station. The manager of Jundah station said these people were not involved. The group then killed 11 more Aboriginal people to the east, near Cockatoo station.

They also tracked people from the Baking Board area, west of Chinchilla. They found a group of Aboriginal people at Redbank. They rounded them up and killed them, even though the local Ross family protested.

Settlers noticed Aboriginal people moving to new areas. They sought safety in the Auburn and Burnet districts. Settlers from the Upper Dawson and these areas formed a group in December. This group went on for six weeks. During this time, an estimated 80 more Aboriginal people lost their lives in several camps.

The Yiman people moving deep into the Auburn and Burnet districts suggests they had old ties with local groups there. This movement also shows that the Upper Dawson people were likely part of a larger language group. This group included the Wakka Wakka and Kabi Kabi people of the Wide Bay area.

A period of conflict continued for about 18 months. In January 1858, 200-300 Aboriginal people attacked a group with magistrate William Wiseman. This happened on the road between Rannes and the Gracemere station. The attack failed. After four settlers were killed in April, 60 tribesmen attacked Henry Gregory's Gwambagwyne station near Taroom in July 1858.

In the responses by settlers and native police, over 300 Yiman people were hunted down and killed. Those who carried out these actions were not charged. Historians say these events shaped how the government and settlers treated Indigenous peoples in Queensland for many years.

Modern History and Recognition

The Iman people were not wiped out. In 1998, they applied to the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT). They sought official recognition of their native title to their homeland.

On September 14, 2015, an agreement was officially recorded by the NNTT. This agreement was about an area of approximately 14,020 square kilometres (5,413 sq mi). It is located about 75 kilometres (47 mi) north-east of Roma.

On June 23, 2016, the case was finished. Justice John Reeves of the Federal Court approved a special agreement in Taroom. The judge explained that the court order did not give the Iman native title. Instead, it recognized their title that already existed. It also recognized their ongoing connection to the land. This was important, as it had been 150 years since they were forced to hide.

On the same day, Anthony Lynham, a Minister in the Government of Queensland, welcomed the positive outcome.