Gunai

Introduction

The Gunai or Kurnai (sometimes spelt as Gunnai and Ganai) is an Indigenous Australian nation of south-east Australia whose territory occupied most of present-day Gippsland and much of the southern slopes of the Victorian Alps. The nation was not on friendly terms with the neighbouring Wurundjeri and Bunurong nations. Many of the Gunai people resisted early European settlement through the 19th century, resulting in many brutal confrontations between Europeans and the Gunai. By some estimations, there were 15 Gunai massacres between 1840 and 1850 alone.

The Kurnai were a Matriarchal society, meaning that the women were the administrators or organisers, the men were the custodians of the land, being advised by the women.

Adapted from Wikipedia’s article on the Gunai People

West Papuans given Aboriginal passports

Underreported Struggles #48, March 2011

Australia: Lake Tyers Women Holding Blockade Against the Government

We're fighting for our lives

Indigenous Peoples are putting their bodies on the line and it's our responsibility to make sure you know why. That takes time, expertise and resources - and we're up against a constant tide of misinformation and distorted coverage. By supporting IC you're empowering the kind of journalism we need, at the moment we need it most.

independent uncompromising indigenous
Except where otherwise noted, articles on this website are licensed under a Creative Commons License