Yugambeh-Bandjalangic peoples facts for kids
The Yugambeh-Bandjalangic peoples, also known as the Bundjalung people, are an Aboriginal Australian group. They are known for speaking one or more of the Yugambeh–Bundjalung languages and sharing similar cultural traditions and history. There are about 15 smaller groups that make up this larger cultural family, often called "Bundjalung" or "Three Brothers Mob".
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Languages of the Yugambeh-Bundjalung People
The Yugambeh-Bandjalangic people speak languages that belong to the Pama-Nyungan family. This is a very large group of Aboriginal languages found across Australia.
Main Language Groups
The Yugambeh-Bandjalangic language family has four main branches:
- Tweed-Albert Language, also called the Yugambeh language:
- Yugambeh
- Nganduwal
- Ngarangwal
- Condamine-Upper Clarence, also called the Githabul language:
- Galibal
- Dinggabal
- Gidabal
- Geynan
- Lower Richmond, also called the Eastern Bundjalung/Bandjalang language:
- Ngangbal
- Bandjalang
- Wiyabal
- Minyangbal
- Middle Clarence, also called the Western Bundjalung language:
- Wahlubal
- Bundjalung
- Birihn
- Wehlubal
History of the Bundjalung People
Land Rights Recognition
The descendants of two groups within the Bundjalung family, the Githabul and the Western Bundjalung people, have had their traditional land rights officially recognized. This happened in 2007 for the Githabul and in 2017 for the Western Bundjalung people. This recognition is called "native title rights." It means that the law agrees they have special rights and interests in their traditional lands and waters.
Spiritual Beliefs
The Yugambeh-Bandjalangic peoples believe that the spirits of brave warriors are present in the mountains. They say that the scars on the mountainsides are like the warriors' injuries. The sound of thunderstorms in the mountains reminds them of the warriors' battles.
A special place called Wollumbin is where one of the main warriors rests. People say you can still see his face in the mountain's rocks when you look at it from the north.
Famous Bundjalung People
Many people from the Bundjalung community have become well-known:
- Bronwyn Bancroft (born 1958) is an Australian artist. She was one of the first Australian fashion designers to show her work in Paris, France. Bronwyn is also an artist, illustrator, and helps manage arts organizations.
- Troy Cassar-Daley was born in Grafton. His mother is Aboriginal and his father is Maltese-Australian.
- Joyce Clague is a person who works to make social and political changes.
- Ruby Langford Ginibi is an author and teacher. She taught about Aboriginal history, culture, and politics. Her grandfather, "Sam" Anderson, was one of only two Aboriginal cricketers to get Sir Donald Bradman out for no runs in a game in 1928 at Lismore.
- Anthony Mundine is a professional boxer who has won many world championships. He also used to play rugby league for New South Wales in the NRL. Before he became a boxer, he was the highest-paid player in the NRL.
- Warren Mundine is an advisor to the current prime minister of Australia. He used to be the national president of the Australian Labor Party. He also helps lead the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.
- Mark Olive, also known as the "Black Olive" or "Bush food crusader," is a chef from Wollongong. He trained in Europe and has over twenty years of cooking experience. He has his own cooking show on pay TV called The Outback Cafe, which focuses on Indigenous cooking. He has also written cookbooks.
- Johnny Jarrett (Patten) was an Australian Bantamweight boxing champion from 1958 to 1962.
- Wes Patten is an actor, television host, and former NRL player. He played for several teams, including the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He has appeared in TV shows and movies, including Heartland (1994) and Dirt Water Dynasty (1988).
- Albert Torrens is a former international rugby league player. He played for teams like the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the Australian NRL and the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League in England.
