The Kulin Nation consists of the five language groups who are the traditional owners and lived in what is known as the Port Phillip region: Boonwurrung (Boon-wur-rung) Dja Dja Wurrung (Jar-Jar-Wur-rung) Taungurung (Tung-ger-rung) Wathaurung (Wath-er-rung)
A confederacy of Koorie clans, the Kulin was comprised of four -urrung dialect groups. The basis of this confederacy was a commonality of language and spiritual belief. The name is derived from the term for human being, common to each of the dialects.
The East Kulin Nation have lived in the area now known as Melbourne, for more than 65,000 years harnessing the rich resources of the Yarra River and surrounding bush lands and ranges. Part of the East Kulin Nation are the Wurundjeri people who spoke the Woi-wurrung language who are the Traditional Owners of Manningham.
The people of the Kulin nation believe the land was created as part of the Dreaming. The creation stories they pass from generation to generation describe how their spiritual ancestors created the landscape and all its living creatures. The main spiritual ancestor of the Kulin people is Bunjil the eagle.
The Kulin are a federation of five distinct but strongly related communities. They prospered in approximately two million hectares of what is now known as south central Victoria. of the northwest region (Loddon River).
The Wurundjeri-willam people of the Kulin Nation are the Traditional Owners of the land that is now known as the City of Yarra. Their relationship with the land extends back tens of thousands of years to when their creator spirit 'Bunjil' formed their people, the land and all living things.
The traditional Aboriginal name of Melbourne is Naarm and Naarm is the traditional lands of the Kulin Nation. The Kulin Nation is a collective of five Aboriginal clans: Wurundjeri, Boonwurrung, Wathaurrung, Taungurung and Dja DjaWrung.
* In 1905 Michael Brown took up a large land holding which included land upon which modern Kulin now stands. * In 1909 Michael Healy and Edward John Reardon took up land at Kulin Rock. * In 1915 the railway from Narrogin reached Kulin. * In 1919 the Kulin Hotel opened for business.
Bunjil is the Ancestral Wedge-tailed Eagle, the creator. Waa is the Ancestral Crow, the protector.
The Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation are the Traditional Owners of the land that is now known as the City of Yarra. Their relationship with the land extends back tens of thousands of years to when their creator spirit 'Bunjil' formed their people, the land and all living things.
Wominjeka means Hello/Welcome in the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people of Kulin Nation – the traditional owners of Melbourne.
The Wurundjeri people are an Australian Aboriginal people of the Woiwurrung language group, in the Kulin nation. They are the traditional owners of the Yarra River Valley, covering much of the present location of Melbourne. They continue to live in this area and throughout Australia.
Boon Wurrung is the language spoken by one of the five tribes of the Kulin Nation. It shares over 90 per cent of its vocabulary with the Woiwurrung language.
The name "Werribee" originated from the Victorian Aboriginal name for the Werribee River, Wirribi-yaluk in Wathawurrung and Boonwurrung, wirribi meaning "backbone" or "spine". Early leasing of pastures was led by members of John Batman's Port Phillip Association.
“WURRUNG” Kulin languages share the word “wurrung”, meaning speech, tongue, lip or language. Each language group is referred to by its unique word for “no”, followed by wurrung. So Woi wurrung refers to the language in which woi means no, Boon wurrung is the language in which boon means no, etc.
For example, many well regarded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, academics and organisations use the term 'Indigenous' or 'Indigenous Australians'.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders: Australia's First Peoples.
The time of arrival of the first human beings in Australia is a matter of debate and ongoing investigation. The earliest conclusively human remains found in Australia are those of Mungo Man LM3 and Mungo Lady, which have been dated to around 50,000 years BP.
These findings suggest that modern Aboriginal Australians are the direct descendants of the eastern wave, who left Africa up to 75,000 years ago. This finding is compatible with earlier archaeological finds of human remains near Lake Mungo that date to approximately 40,000 years ago.
After Colonisation
Most of the surviving Wurundjeri people were moved to Coranderrk station along with others from the Kulin Nation. Coranderrk Aboriginal Station is located on the Yarra Flats, bordered by the Yarra River, Badger creek, Watts River and the slopes of Mount Riddle.
The Wurundjeri People take their name from the Woiwurrung language word ' wurun ' meaning the Manna Gum ( Eucalyptus viminalis ) which is common along ' Birrarung ' (Yarra River), and ' djeri ', the grub which is found in or near the tree.
In Victoria, Aboriginal people refer to themselves as Koori. It is a term that is shared with other Aboriginal groups from New South Wales (NSW).
The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and pays respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Our Ancestors understood that caring for Country allowed Country to care for them. Aboriginal Peoples have a deep connection with land and water with Country, which is central to their spiritual identity, and have maintained this connection despite the devastating impacts of colonisation and forced removal.
Acknowledgement Wording for RCH
“I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we are meeting today, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.”