Aboriginal Heritage
Aboriginals have been living in Kakadu for about 50,000 years. The aboriginals that lived in the north of the park are called Bininj, whilst those who lived in the south are called Mungguy. Although the people are called diferent names depending on where you live, the people and land are always linked through art, language, kinship, ceremonies and caring for the land and respecting the culture.
Language
Wudda gamak - How are you?
Bobo - Goodbye
Ayedgah yire - Where are you going?
History
There were never any permanent settlements. Our ancestors used stringy bark to make shelters in the dry season and in the wet season they built huts on stilits.The aboriginal population in Kakadu decreased a lot when non-aboriginal people came to the area because many people moved into towns off their lands. Before the non-aboriginal people came, there was about 2,000 aboriginal people in the area. Now there are only 500 in 18 different outstations dotted around the park.
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Kakadu National Park was declared a park in different stages, beginning in 1970. This was around the time when Australians were all about declaring national parks, to recognise our Aboriginal culture. Kakadu was the name chosen to recognise Gagudju, the Aboriginal language spoken in the area. The most recent part of the park that was added was Koongarra. Jeffrey Lee, the previous traditional owner of this land, had prevented mining there for decades. Now that it is part of Kakadu, it will be forever protected. Koongarra is located in the shadows of Nourlangie Rock, if you're looking at the lookout form Nourlangie rock you would be looking at Koongarra.
