Aboriginal Education & Appreciation
Aboriginal nations have complex and fluid relationships with the land and are deeply connected to the culture, language, and spiritual beliefs of the community. Their territories are often defined by cultural and linguistic boundaries rather than fixed geographical lines.
Nations & People of the Region – click on the links to learn about the nations and peoples.
We acknowledge the Yuggera-Ugurupal Nation people east of the range to Brisbane (Clumber land). Barungaam Nation & Jarowair people to the northwest of the range including Gatton and Toowoomba region. Bunjalung Nation & Gidhabal / Githibal people southwestern side of the range (Canopy, Ecocamps, Peak Station).
Click here to view a map of Indigenous Australia.
Uncle John Long
Enrich your knowledge by learning about Elder Uncle John Long (Burragun), who was the last of his Mob to live traditionally, up until the age of fifteen, in the Kooralbyn area, he was the lore keeper of his people. Benjamin Allmon walked with him for months while creating the book The Black & White Braid. This quote was shared:
“Walk with humility and a good heart…do that, and you can walk anywhere in this land.” – Uncle John Long, Ugarapul Elder
Kira met Uncle John in 2019 and had a long conversation with him about the Scenic Rim Trail.
Recommended resources
Boonah’s Giant Ancestral Eel in the hands of Traditional Owners
First Peoples of Australia – AIATSIS website
Learning about the heritage of Acknowledgement and Welcome to Country is important to your story telling. Moving beyond the script and creating an acknowledgement that is genuine and meaningful to you is key.
Resources
Acknowledgement of Country at SRT (1)
Acknowledging Country: a modern history | SBS NITV
Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country – Reconciliation Australia
“The Dreaming goes by many different names throughout Australia, but they have a similar meaning. The Dreaming refers to the ‘Spirit World’ that accompanies our physical one. It is believed that our Creator Spirits and Ancestors reside there and that we too will eventually go there when we pass away. The Dreaming is the basis for all the beliefs and Lore that we as Aboriginal people chose to live our lives by.” – Deadly Story Website
When starting the Scenic Rim Trail, we worked with the Currie Family, one of the largest Traditional Owner Families within the Aboriginal Yugembeh Bundjalaung nations of South East QLD, and Far North NSW. They shared a story about the koala and platypus and gave us permission to share them.
BOORABEE KOALA STORY – relevant for the 2-day / Canopy based walks
WADHIN PLATYPUS STORY – relevant for Miller Vale Creek 2-day walk
The BUTCHA STORY is relatively well shared and has been referenced in books, interviews and by Uncle John Long (Burragun). We do not have direct permission to share this story so each guide can use their personal experience and judgement to reference it or tell the story in detail, it is one of our compulsory interps delivered at the Mt Castle lookout.
Ugarapul elder Uncle John Long (Burragun). One of the last to live traditionally in the Scenic Rim, his stories of the land we walk through lend us a new set of eyes to read an ancient story. Mount Castle is a case in point – to Uncle Burragun, it is Butcha, the greatest hero of the Ugarapul, who died in the defence of his people and now lies staring at the sky, his profile outlined in the mountain itself.
Other topics and resources you may wish to explore:
First Nations Story Telling – Australian Museum Website
Life and Lore – Deadly Story website
Australia’s first naturalists: Indigenous peoples’ contribution to early zoology / Penny Olsen and Lynette Russell – Book
Aboriginal Fire Management – Cool Burning
