The Wallumedegal Aboriginal Tribe

by

Leah

3S

Mr. Squires

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 : WHO THEY ARE

CHAPTER 2: WHERE THEY LIVED

CHAPTER 3: WHAT THEY ATE

CHAPTER 4: HOW THEY HUNTED

CHAPTER5: ART AND CULTURE

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CHAPTER 1

The Wallumedgal were an Aboriginal Tribe who lived in the area between the Lane Cove River and the Parramatta River. They spoke the same language

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as the Port Jackson clans, called Darug. Their name means Snapper Fish, and the Fish was their Totem.

Snapper Fish

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CHAPTER 2

The Wallumedegal people lived in a large area stretching from the Lane Cove River all the

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way to Parramatta. They lived in a rich environment of river flats, creeks and mangrove swamps.

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CHAPTER 3

The Wallumedegal survived for generations eating lots of different foods, such as shellfish, birds, small game as well as a large variety of bush plants.

Which they could easily find around the area.

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CHAPTER 4

The Wallumedegal used a variety of different methods to hunt for their food. They made spears, from light wood, that was very strong.

The spears had a detachable head made from sharpened stone.

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They also used spears that were multi-pronged, they used these ones for fishing.

When they threw the spears they used a device called a woomera, which helped them to throw further and faster.

The Wallumedegal also used Boomerangs which could easily

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kill a small animal, or knock down a larger one.

The Wallumedegal had a variety of different nets, baskets and bags that they used for gathering plants, and berries, these were mostly used by the women of the tribe, and were

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made from bush string and knotted grass stalks woven together, and some were woven so tightly that they could even carry water.

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CHAPTER 5

The Wallumedegal had a very deep connection with the land they lived on and surrounding area.

They showed this through their art, music and dance.

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They had many different ceremonial dances, such as initiation into adulthood for boys and girls, and funerals.

They involved chanting, singing and dancing to call upon ancient spirits.

The men would cover themselves in white clay.

They used two Boomerangs to hit them together to creat a beat, and they also played the Didgeridoo, which was made from a hollowed out tree branch.,

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The most famous of the Wallumedegal people, was Bennelong, who was captured in October 1789, one month after throwing a spear at Governor Arthur Phillip. Bennelong died in 1813 and is buried in Kissing Point in the Ryde area.

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The End.