The Koamu ( Guwamu ) were an indigenous Australian people of the state of Queensland .
13-610: The Koamu language , often classified as a dialect of Bidjara , appeared to be quite similar to that spoken by the Ualarai , and some early ethnographers such as R. H. Mathews confused the two for this reason. The Koamu are estimated to have ranged over 6,000 square miles (16,000 km) of tribal territory. They were on the Balonne River starting south of St. George , as far as Angledool , Hebei, and Brenda. Their western terrain extended to Bollon and Nebine Creek . Dirranbandi also
26-868: A custodian of knowledge and lore , and who has permission to disclose knowledge and beliefs". They may be male or female, and of any age, but must be trusted and respected by their community for their wisdom, cultural knowledge and community service. Elders provide support for their communities in the form of guidance, counselling and knowledge, which help tackle problems of health, education, unemployment and racism, particularly for younger people. They may be distinguished as one of two types: community elders and traditional elders. Elders play an important role in maintenance of culture, songs, oral histories , sacred stories , Aboriginal Australian languages , and dance, and are also educators who demonstrate leadership and skills in resolving conflicts. Elders also preside over ceremonies and other spiritual practices, and attend to
39-652: The Blackdown Tablelands . the Comet River , and the Expedition Range , and the towns of Woorabinda , Springsure and Rolleston . Australian Bidjara artist Christian Bumbarra Thompson employs his Bidjara language in his video work in an attempt to redistribute his language into the public realm. His work Gamu Mambu , which means "Blood Song", is a video work of a Dutch Baroque opera singer singing in Bidjara. It
52-627: The "traditions and beliefs of Aboriginal groups nationwide". The Dreaming Path , a book written by the first Aboriginal CEO of an Australian TAFE , Paul Callaghan, in collaboration with Ngemba elder Paul Gordon, describes the important role played by elders in Aboriginal society. Some organisations have created formal elder-in-residence programs, such as the University of South Australia 's Elders on Campus project, which helps to support Indigenous students. The role of Aboriginal elders has also been
65-695: The first Gunggari dictionary. Gunggari NTC have also developed language workshops, for adults to learn their people's language, holding the first off-country in Toowoomba . As of November 2021 , they were planning to extend the workshops to Brisbane , Woorabinda and Mitchell. Below is a basic vocabulary list from Blake (1981). Aboriginal elder Australian Aboriginal elders are highly respected people within Australia and their respective Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. An elder has been defined as "someone who has gained recognition as
78-479: The health and well-being of young people. Elders are sometimes addressed by other Aboriginal people as Uncle or Aunty as a mark of respect. The honorific may be used by non-Aboriginal people, but generally only when permission is given to do so. Self-determination advocacy organisation the Aboriginal Provisional Government was initially headed by a "Council of Elders" in accordance with
91-759: The language. As of 2021 , there were only three native speakers of the Gunggari language left, including Elder of the Year Aunty Lynette Nixon, and a major language revival effort has been under way in Queensland schools since St Patrick's School in Mitchell started teaching it around 2013. Since then, Mitchell State School has also started teaching Gunggari. Aunty Lynette, along with the Gunggari Native Title Corporation (NTC), have been compiling
104-503: The region. The various dialects are not all confirmed or agreed by linguists. The Bidjara language included numerous dialects, of which Bidjara proper was the last to go extinct. One of these was Gunya (Kunja), spoken over 31,200 km (12,188 sq mi), from the Warrego River near Cunnamulla north to Augathella and Burenda Station; west to between Cooladdi and Cheepie; east to Morven and Angellala Creek; at Charle-ville. Fred McKellar
117-579: The state of Queensland in 2014. Source: Tindale 1974 , p. 175 Koamu language Bidjara , also spelt Bidyara or Pitjara , is an Australian Aboriginal language . In 1980, it was spoken by 20 elders in Queensland between the towns of Tambo and Augathella , or the Warrego and Langlo Rivers . There are many dialects of the language, including Gayiri and Gunggari . Some of them are being revitalised and are being taught in local schools in
130-529: Was fashioned by a bat, which gummed on some cockatoo feathers to a sticky milky weed, which immediately took wing, and flew right down to Koamu territory, with the bat in hot pursuit, until it won sanctuary in a cave called Ungwari. The Koamu undertook rituals in this cavern to secure the increase of bees in their area. The descendants of the Koamu, under the name the Kooma people, had their native title rights recognized by
143-427: Was included in the 17th Sydney Biennale , The Beauty of Distance: Songs of Survival in a Precarious Age . During NAIDOC Week in 2019, Bidjara man Owen Stanley shared his insights on the loss of language, and his sadness at not being fluent in his own language, with an audience at Uniting NSW. He said that his grandmother was one of the last 20 elders who died with the language, and attempts were being made to revive
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#1732855003098156-407: Was part of their territory. According to Thomas Honery, an authority on the nearby Weilwan , the Koamu also lived around the Warrego . This was rejected by Norman Tindale as beyond their western frontier. On dying, a Koamu is met on passing into the spirit world by his yuri or totem , who then reintroduces him to all of his relations, the natural species belonging to his moiety . The first bee
169-613: Was the last known speaker. Yagalingu is poorly attested but may have been a dialect of Bidjara. Natalie Kwok prepared a report on Gunggari for the National Native Title Tribunal in Australia. In it she says: The Wadjigu (also known as Wadja, Wadya, Wadjainngo, Mandalgu, and Wadjigun) language region includes the local government areas of the Aboriginal Shire of Woorabinda and Central Highlands Region , including
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