Jandamarra
Encyclopedia
Jandamarra or Tjandamurra (c. 1873—1 April 1897), also known as "Pigeon", was an Indigenous Australian
of the Bunuba people who led one of the few organised armed insurrections documented against European settlement in Australia.
region in the far north of the state of Western Australia
, and stretches from the town of Fitzroy Crossing to the King Leopold Ranges
. Bunuba lands include the Napier
and Oscar Ranges.
When Jandamarra's best friend, an Englishman named Richardson, joined the police force in the 1890s Jandamarra, a skilled horseman and marksman, was employed as his native tracker. Unusually for the time, Jandamarra was treated as an equal and the pair gained a reputation as the "most outstanding" team in the police force at that time. At one time the pair captured a group of Aborigines which included Jandamarra's uncle Ellemarra for spearing a sheep. Ellemarra escaped and constable Richardson swore that Ellemarra had displayed super-human strength and snapped his chains, however it was suspected that Jandamarra had freed him. During a later patrol of the Napier Ranges in the West Kimberley, Jandamarra helped to capture a large group of his people, both men and women and which again included his uncle. They were held at Lillimilura Police Post. Belatedly, Jandamarra's tribal loyalties came to the fore. He gunned down his friend Richardson, stole a number of guns and set the prisoners free.
. Jandamarra was wounded but escaped. Police attacked Aboriginal camps around Fitzroy Crossing. Many Aboriginal people were killed, some purely on suspicion that they had ties to Jandamarra's band. At the time, this was regarded as a normal police action.
For three years, Jandamarra led a guerrilla
war against police and European settlers. His hit and run tactics and his vanishing tricks became almost mythical. In one famous incident a police patrol followed him to his hideout at the entrance to Tunnel Creek
in the Napier Range, but Jandamarra disappeared mysteriously. It was many years later that it was discovered that Tunnel Creek has a collapsed section that allows entry and egress from the top of the Range.
Jandamarra was held in awe by other Aboriginal people who believed he was immortal, his body simply a physical manifestation of a spirit that resided in a water soak near Tunnel Creek. It was believed that only an Aborigine with similar mystical powers could kill him. Police chasing Jandamarra were also in awe at his ability to cross the rugged ranges with no effect on his bare feet, despite their boots being cut to shreds by the sharp rocks.
Jandamarra's war was relatively short-lived and ended when police recruited Micki by holding his children hostage. Micki, a remarkable Aboriginal tracker
was also reputed to possess magical powers, and was neither a Bunuba tribesman, nor did he fear Jandamarra. Micki tracked Jandamarra down and shot him to death at Tunnel Creek on 1 April 1897. The white troopers cut off Jandamarra's head as proof that he was dead and it was preserved and sent to a firearms company in England where it was used as an example of the effectiveness of the companies firearms. The head of another Bunuba was labelled as Jandamarra and put on public display in Perth. His body was buried by his family at the Napier Range where it was placed inside a boab tree.
's Outlaws of the Leopold (1952) and Mudrooroo
's Long Live Sandawarra (1972). Mudrooroo's novel, in counterpart to Idriess's, was written for an Indigenous audience to bring to their attention a hero of their own and cuts between the story of Jandamarra (called Sandawarra) and the contemporary story of young urbanised Sandy and his friends who are inspired by Jandamarra.
More recently the story of Jandamarra, put down in writing by Howard Pedersen, was the subject of the Western Australian Premier's Book Award
-winning history, Jandamarra and the Bunuba Resistance. A stage play (Jandamarra) was produced by the Black Swan Theatre Company
in 2008. A documentary about his life from the ABC
and Indigenous independent production company Wawili Pitjas first screened on the 12th of May 2011.
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
of the Bunuba people who led one of the few organised armed insurrections documented against European settlement in Australia.
Background
The Bunuba land is in the southern part of the KimberleyKimberley region of Western Australia
The Kimberley is one of the nine regions of Western Australia. It is located in the northern part of Western Australia, bordered on the west by the Indian Ocean, on the north by the Timor Sea, on the south by the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts, and on the east by the Northern Territory.The region...
region in the far north of the state of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, and stretches from the town of Fitzroy Crossing to the King Leopold Ranges
King Leopold Ranges
The King Leopold Ranges are a range of hills in the western Kimberley region of Western Australia. Crossed by the Gibb River Road about east of Derby, part of the ranges are covered by the King Leopold Ranges Conservation National Park, managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation...
. Bunuba lands include the Napier
Napier Range
The Napier Ranges are located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The range is south of and runs parallel to the King Leopold Range.They feature the impressive Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek and Geikie Gorge that were formed over 350 million years ago as part of a limestone reef.The...
and Oscar Ranges.
When Jandamarra's best friend, an Englishman named Richardson, joined the police force in the 1890s Jandamarra, a skilled horseman and marksman, was employed as his native tracker. Unusually for the time, Jandamarra was treated as an equal and the pair gained a reputation as the "most outstanding" team in the police force at that time. At one time the pair captured a group of Aborigines which included Jandamarra's uncle Ellemarra for spearing a sheep. Ellemarra escaped and constable Richardson swore that Ellemarra had displayed super-human strength and snapped his chains, however it was suspected that Jandamarra had freed him. During a later patrol of the Napier Ranges in the West Kimberley, Jandamarra helped to capture a large group of his people, both men and women and which again included his uncle. They were held at Lillimilura Police Post. Belatedly, Jandamarra's tribal loyalties came to the fore. He gunned down his friend Richardson, stole a number of guns and set the prisoners free.
Guerrilla war
On 10 November 1894, Jandamarra and some followers attacked five white men who were driving cattle to set up a large station in the heart of Bunuba land. Two of these men, Burke and Gibbs, were killed. This was the first time that guns were used against European settlers in an organised fashion and began what became known as "The Bunuba War". There was outrage in Derby and Broome when news of Jandamarra's action became known. In late 1894 a posse of 30 or so heavily armed police and settlers attacked Jandamarra and his followers in Windjana GorgeWindjana Gorge
Windjana Gorge is a gorge in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is located at , within the Windjana Gorge National Park.The gorge was formed by the Lennard River having eroded away a section of the Napier Range...
. Jandamarra was wounded but escaped. Police attacked Aboriginal camps around Fitzroy Crossing. Many Aboriginal people were killed, some purely on suspicion that they had ties to Jandamarra's band. At the time, this was regarded as a normal police action.
For three years, Jandamarra led a guerrilla
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
war against police and European settlers. His hit and run tactics and his vanishing tricks became almost mythical. In one famous incident a police patrol followed him to his hideout at the entrance to Tunnel Creek
Tunnel Creek
Tunnel Creek is a creek located within the grounds of Tunnel Creek National Park in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. Along with Geikie Gorge and Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek is part of an ancient barrier reef that developed during the Devonian Period...
in the Napier Range, but Jandamarra disappeared mysteriously. It was many years later that it was discovered that Tunnel Creek has a collapsed section that allows entry and egress from the top of the Range.
Jandamarra's war was relatively short-lived and ended when police recruited Micki by holding his children hostage. Micki, a remarkable Aboriginal tracker
Aboriginal tracker
In the years following British settlement in Australia, aboriginal trackers or black trackers, as they became known, were enlisted by settlers to assist them in navigating their way through the Australian landscape...
was also reputed to possess magical powers, and was neither a Bunuba tribesman, nor did he fear Jandamarra. Micki tracked Jandamarra down and shot him to death at Tunnel Creek on 1 April 1897. The white troopers cut off Jandamarra's head as proof that he was dead and it was preserved and sent to a firearms company in England where it was used as an example of the effectiveness of the companies firearms. The head of another Bunuba was labelled as Jandamarra and put on public display in Perth. His body was buried by his family at the Napier Range where it was placed inside a boab tree.
Legacy
Jandamarra's life has been the subject of two novels, Ion IdriessIon Idriess
Ion Llewellyn Idriess, OBE was a prolific and influential Australian author. He wrote more than 50 books over 43 years between 1927 to 1969 - an average of one book every 10 months, and twice published three books in one year...
's Outlaws of the Leopold (1952) and Mudrooroo
Mudrooroo
Colin Thomas Johnson, better known by his nom de plume, Mudrooroo is a novelist, poet, essayist and playwright. He has been described as one of the most enigmatic literary figures of Australia and since 2001 he has been living in Kapan, Nepal...
's Long Live Sandawarra (1972). Mudrooroo's novel, in counterpart to Idriess's, was written for an Indigenous audience to bring to their attention a hero of their own and cuts between the story of Jandamarra (called Sandawarra) and the contemporary story of young urbanised Sandy and his friends who are inspired by Jandamarra.
More recently the story of Jandamarra, put down in writing by Howard Pedersen, was the subject of the Western Australian Premier's Book Award
Western Australian Premier's Book Awards
The Western Australian Premier's Book Awards is an award for books, scripts, digital narrative and a People's Choice. Awards are provided by the Government of Western Australia, and the awards process is managed by the State Library of Western Australia...
-winning history, Jandamarra and the Bunuba Resistance. A stage play (Jandamarra) was produced by the Black Swan Theatre Company
Black Swan Theatre Company
Black Swan State Theatre Company formally known as The Black Swan Theatre Company is the state theatre company of Western Australia, running an annual subscription season in Perth.-History:...
in 2008. A documentary about his life from the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
and Indigenous independent production company Wawili Pitjas first screened on the 12th of May 2011.
External links
- Jandamarra Bunaba Films