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| Dharug people | |
|---|---|
| akaDarug,Dharruk,Dharrook,Darrook,Dharung,Broken Bay tribe[1] | |
 Sydney Basin bioregion | |
| Hierarchy | |
| Language family | Pama–Nyungan |
| Language branch: | Yuin–Kuric |
| Language group: | Dharug |
| Group dialects: | Inland Dharug & Coastal Dharug |
| Area (approx. 6,000 sq. km) | |
| Bioregion: |
|
| Location: | Sydney,New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates: | 33°35′S150°35′E / 33.583°S 150.583°E /-33.583; 150.583[1] |
| Mountains: | Blue Mountains |
| Rivers: | Cooks,Georges,Hawkesbury,Lane Cove,Nepean,Parramatta |
| Notable individuals | |
| Pemulwuy | |
| Anthony Fernando | |
TheDharug orDarug people, are a nation ofAboriginal Australian clans, who share ties of kinship, country and culture. Inpre-colonial times, they lived as hunters in the region of current daySydney. The Darug speak one of two dialects of the Dharug language related to their coastal or inland groups. There was armed conflict between the Dharug and the English settlers in the first half of the 19th century. Controversy over land rights, deference to culture and official return of Dharug artifacts, such as the skull of the warriorPemulwuy, were a main cause of such conflict.
Dharug country covers an area of approximately 6,000 km2 (2,300 square miles). In the north, it reaches theHawkesbury River and its mouth atBroken Bay, creating a border with theAwabakal. To the northwest, the Dharug country extends to the town ofMount Victoria in theBlue Mountains meeting theDarkinjung. To the west,Wiradjuri country begins at the eastern fringe of theBlue Mountains. To the southwest, in theSouthern Highlands, is the border withGandangara country. In the southeast, in theIllawarra area is the border with the traditionalTharawal lands. The Dharug traditional country includes the areas aroundCampbelltown,Liverpool,Camden,Penrith andWindsor.[1]
TheDharug language, has two dialects; one inland and one coastal, with the coastal dialect also known as Eora.[2][3]
The wordmyall, now a pejorative word inAustralian English denoting any Aboriginal person who keeps a traditional way of life, originated in the Dharug language. In Dharug, the wordmayal means anyone from another clan or country.[4][5]
The two dialects are associated with the activities of the inland (paiendra or "tool people") and the coastal (katungal or"sea people") people, respectively. Traditionally, thepaiendra huntedkangaroos,emus and other land animals, and used stone axes more extensively than thekatungal.[6] Thekatungal builtcanoes, harvesting primarily seafood diet, including fish and shellfish fromSydney Harbour,Botany Bay and their associated rivers.[6]
The clans of the Dharug nation can be divided into two broad groups based upon their language dialect: the inland Dharug, and the coastal Dharug (also known as Eora). Each of theseclans and their descendant clans consisted of approximately 50 to 400 individuals resident to their own particular geographic area.[7] James Kohen, academic and expert witness for the Dharug people, describes 15 clans while others describe 29 individual clans.[8]
| Coastal Dharug (Eora) clans | Inland Dharug clans |
|---|---|
| Bediagal | Cabrogal |
| Bidjigal | Cattai |
| Birrabirragal | Boolbainora |
| Borogegal | Buruberongal |
| Burramattagal | Cannemegal |
| Cadigal (Gadigal) | Gommerigal |
| Cammeraygal | Kurrajong |
| Cannalgal | Mulgoa |
| Garigal | Toongagal (Tugagal) |
| Gorualgal | Warrawarry (Wandeandegal) |
| Kamaygal | Murringong |
| Kayimai | |
| Murroredial | |
| Turramerragal | |
| Wallumettagal | |
| Wangal |
Between 1794 and about 1830, theHawkesbury River area was a place of conflict between Dharug people and the more than 400British settlers in the region. The farms created by the settlers disrupted access to the river and the gathering of food by the Dharug. Dharug who took crops from the farms were killed, for example, bygibbeting or hanging, by the settlers. The Dharug burned the farmers' crops in retaliation. In 1795, as the level of conflict escalated, government troops were sent to protect the settlers. In 1801,Governor King ordered troops to patrol farms on theGeorges River and to shoot any Dharug on sight. In 1816,Governor Macquarie forbade Aboriginals to carry any weapons within two kilometres of a house or a town or to congregate in groups bigger than six. He also authorised settlers to establishvigilante groups and the addition of three new military outposts.[9]
A group led by Pemulwuy, a Dharug warrior, raidedParramatta, where he was severely wounded and then fled. His group was accused of killing four settlers and of raping women. The government issued orders for his capture, dead or alive. He was shot and killed by two settlers in 1802. His head was severed, pickled and dispatched by King toSir Joseph Banks. AlthoughWilliam, Prince of Wales advised he would return Pemulwuy's remains, in 2010, the skull had not been located.
Tedbury, Pemluwuy's son, raided farms until 1810.Mosquito, another warrior, led raids for about 20 years before he was captured and hanged inVan Diemen's land (nowTasmania) 1823.[9]
Smallpox, introduced in 1789 by the British, led to the deaths of up to 90% of the Dharug population in some areas.[10] For safety, some Dharug moved to live in thesandstone caves and overhangs of the Hawksbury river region, while others remained in dwellings made from bark, sticks and branches.
A place of deep Dharug cultural importance is an area previously called "Blacks Town" and now the suburb ofColebee, which lies in theBlacktown local government area. In 2012,City of Blacktown ceased recognition of the Dharug people as thetraditional owners of the area. The council also passed a motion, opposed by some councillors, to begin a process to consider changing the name "Blacktown". In response, an online petition was launched calling for the recognition of the Dharug people.[11]
In 2020, theHills Shire Council, whose local government area includes Dharug land, rejected requests to include anAcknowledgement of Country at its meetings. It is the only Sydney local council that does not include an Acknowledgement of Country at its meetings.[12]
Source:Tindale 1974, p. 193
