Land of Awabakal

OUT OF STOCK

Land of Awabakal is a publication based on the people of the Awabakal, who occupy the land of the present day Newcastle and Lake Macquarie regions.

Over 200 hundred years of European occupation has ensured the decline of this once populous tribe. This publication aims to halt a subsequent decline in knowledge of the Awabakal. Information covering aspects of tribal life including language, art, ritual and lore, food, law and the spirit creation time (Dreaming) was collated to be distributed in local libraries and community organisations.

This publication has been compiled by the Research Project Team of the Advanced Executive Aboriginal Secretarial Certificate Course of 1995. The course was conceived by Yarnteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation of Newcastle and delivered in conjunction with Power Business College. Yarnteen is a community based service which aims to enhance employment and training opportunities and promote cultural identity and awareness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of the Hunter region.

All Research Team participants descend from various Aboriginal tribes including Awabakal, Wiradjuri, Worimi, Bundjalung, and Bunawall Bardi peoples. This project has given all participants a means of promoting their identity and Aboriginality.

Every effort has been made to ensure the information that follows is correct. The publication is the result of consultation with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, local libraries and Aboriginal organisations.

None of this would have been possible without the special efforts of Paul Gordon. We would also like to thank all the staff of Yarnteen and Power Business College.