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An ancient Aboriginal story: How do the Narungga people view the mysterious land of Guuranda?
On South Australia's Yorke Peninsula, the Aboriginal Narungga people call it "Guuranda", a land rich in culture and history. The area has unique geographical features and has been home to the Narungga people for generations. The Narungga people lived here before European colonisation and their descendants still live on the land today, continuing to pass on their stories and cultural heritage.
Geographical and ecological diversity
Surrounded by the Spencer Gulf and the Gulf of St Vincent, the Yorke Peninsula is not only an important agricultural production area, but also has rich biodiversity. The area has a Mediterranean climate, and abundant rainfall provides a guarantee for agriculture, making it a major producer of grains such as barley. In the south of the peninsula, Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park is a vast expanse of vibrant land that serves as a sanctuary for many species of wildlife.
Every inch of this land tells the story of the Narungga people, from ancient legends to modern challenges, all are closely related to this land.
Narungga connection to Guuranda
The Narungga people live on Guuranda and are made up of four family groups that have deep roots in the land. Whenever the Narungga people mention their hometown, they are always filled with pride, because this is not only their home, but also a place for cultural heritage. Over time, the Narungga people’s symbiotic relationship with the natural environment continued, with their names being given to many parts of the land, such as the name of Maitland, “Maggiwarda”.
Cultural Protection and Future Prospects
As times change, the Narungga people continue to maintain and promote their culture locally through the Narungga Aboriginal Progress Association and the Point Pearce community. These organizations not only preserve the Narungga language and customs, but also work to communicate with the wider society to promote awareness and support for their culture.
As a South Australian historian put it: “The future of Narungga is closely linked to the future of the land. Protecting culture is actually protecting ecology.”
Guuranda's natural environment
Yorke Peninsula's ecosystem is very unique. In addition to agricultural production, it is also home to a variety of wildlife and plants. From western wallabies to coastal water birds, Guuranda's environment offers a variety of habitats. The "Biodiversity Bait" project, which began in 2014, has successfully reintroduced many native species, demonstrating the importance and efforts in conservation work.
Arts and cultural expressions
In the realm of art, the Narungga people’s traditional stories are combined with modern forms to create meaningful works. For example, Guuranda, directed by Jacob Boehme of the Narungga/Kaurna tribe, premiered at Her Majesty's Theatre in Adelaide, showing the audience the profound cultural heritage and natural beauty of Guuranda.
SummaryIn Guuranda, the existence of the Narungga people is not only a continuation of history, but also a respect and protection for the natural environment. Their stories continue to inspire every local resident and visitor to think about the diversity and cultural significance of this land. Facing the future, how will the Narungga people continue to pass on and protect their culture?
