{{For-text|the mountain range in South Australia|Barunga Range|the South Australia locality|Barunga Gap}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = town | name = Barunga | state = nt | coordinates = {{coord|14|31|15|S|132|51|54|E|display=inline,title}} | pop = 313 | pop_year = 2011 | image = | caption = | lga = Roper Gulf Region | postcode = 0852 | est = | stategov = Arnhem | fedgov = Lingiari }} '''Barunga''', formerly known as '''Beswick Creek''' and then '''Bamyili''', is a small Aboriginal community located approximately {{convert|80|km}} southeast of Katherine, in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is part of the Roper Gulf Region local government area. At the {{CensusAU|2011}}, Barunga had a population of 313.<ref name="Census2011">{{Census 2011 AUS| id=SSC70019 |name=Barunga (State Suburb)| access-date=15 September 2016|quick=on}}</ref>
In mid June each year, the Barunga Festival, a three-day event showcasing Australian Aboriginal culture, is held. At the 1988 event, the Barunga Statement, which requested a treaty between the Australian federal government and Indigenous Australians (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), was presented to then prime minister Bob Hawke. Just before the 2018 Festival, the Barunga agreement was signed between the Northern Territory Government and all four land councils.
==History== thumb|Tin mine at Maranboy
Aboriginal people have lived in Barunga and the surrounding region for thousands of years.
===Maranboy tin mine=== In September 1913, a goldfield named Maranboy was declared for a period of two years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3273586 |title=PROCLAMATION. |newspaper=Northern Territory Times and Gazette |volume=XXXVIII |issue=2082 |location=Northern Territory, Australia |date=2 October 1913 |access-date=10 August 2016 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Maranboy was located {{convert|8|km}} from where Barunga is today.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barunga|url=https://ropergulf.nt.gov.au/our-communities/barunga/|website=Roper Gulf Regional Council|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref>
Tin was discovered at Maranboy in 1913 by prospectors Scharber and Richardson.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3291876 |title=Maranboy Tinfield. |newspaper=Northern Territory Times and Gazette |volume=XLI |issue=2343 |location=Northern Territory, Australia |date=5 October 1918 |access-date=10 August 2016 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Tin mines and a battery were operational in the same year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3289175 |title=Mining News |newspaper=Northern Territory Times and Gazette |volume=XLI |issue=2322 |location=Northern Territory, Australia |date=11 May 1918 |access-date=10 August 2016 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Prospectors of European, Chinese and Aboriginal descent worked at Maranboy. The mine closed in 1949 for repairs but never reopened.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49991551 |title=Living on Credit Maranboy Battery Still Closed Mines Dept. Inefficiency |newspaper=Northern Standard |volume=4 |issue=186 |location=Northern Territory, Australia |date=16 December 1949 |access-date=12 August 2016 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Many of the Aboriginal people who serviced the mine returned to Beswick Creek. thumb|Bamyili Town Council
===Plane crash nearby=== A Douglas DC-3 belonging to the Dutch Air Force crash-landed near Beswick Creek or Beswick (now Wugularr) in 1947.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49980609 |title=Dutch Dakota Crashed East of Katherine Gorge: Search Party on Way |newspaper=Northern Standard |volume=2 |issue=14 |location=Northern Territory, Australia |date=3 April 1947 |access-date=10 August 2016 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> All passengers survived, with four crew travelling about {{convert|100|mi}} down the Katherine River to get help. After running out of food they killed one of two dogs they had with them.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49980571 |title=Crew Of Crashed Dakota Eat |newspaper=Northern Standard |volume=2 |issue=14 |location=Northern Territory, Australia |date=3 April 1947 |access-date=10 August 2016 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The wings were eventually removed and the remains of the plane were towed to Katherine.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aeroplane |website=Territory Stories |type=Photograph |url=https://hdl.handle.net/10070/6369 |hdl=10070/6369 |hdl-access=free |date=1949|last1=Evans|first1=Ted}}</ref>
===Tandangal===
The Tandangal Native Settlement (from Jawoyn language ''dangdangdal''), also known as the Eight Mile Settlement, was established in 1947, located about {{convert|13|km}} from Beswick Station. The local people were not consulted about the choice of location nor the method of their removal to the settlement from the King River Compound.<ref name=smith>{{cite book| title=Country, Kin and Culture | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VSwlddVCxWYC|first=Claire|last=Smith|date=2004|isbn=978-1-86254-575-5|publisher= Wakefield Press |pages=39–43| access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref>
In 1948, the Beswick community moved to Tandangal (sometimes known as "old Bamyili"<ref>{{cite web | last=Kuipers | first=Ludo | title=Tandangal - Beswick region - Northern Territory - Australia | website=OzOutback | date=18 February 1982 | url=https://ozoutback.com.au/Australia/beswick/slides/1982021802.html | access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref>), because of risk of flooding from recent heavy rains. An influenza epidemic spread through the community in May 1951.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48633362 |title=Fever Among Natives |newspaper=Barrier Miner |volume=LXIII |issue=17,396 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=26 February 1951 |access-date=12 August 2016 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
In June 1951 the people were relocated to the new site, initially known as Beswick Creek Native Settlement, and Tandangal was condemned.<ref name=smith/>
===Back to Beswick=== By November 1951 the flu had killed seven people.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140332754 |title=Mystery 'Flu Kills 7 Aborigines |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate |issue=23,428 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=3 November 1951 |access-date=12 August 2016 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
In early 1951, the Northern Territory Government started to develop the Beswick Creek community, building basic housing infrastructure and creating some minor employment opportunities. Local farmers also employed Aboriginal people, even running a peanut farm at Beswick Creek. The farm only lasted a few years. As Beswick grew, new groups formed a camp on the other side of the river known as "The Compound" where the people made humpies.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
===1950s to present=== The Barunga school was first opened in 1954 with 42 children enrolled.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
The elders changed the name of "The Compound" to Bamyili in 1965. In 1984, it changed its name to Barunga.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
In 1985 the Barunga Festival was first held. In 1988, the Barunga Statement was presented to the prime minister at the event.
==Facilities== Barunga School provides education for students from preschool to the middle years, with up to Year 12 supported by the NT Open Education Centre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barunga |url=https://www.teachintheterritory.nt.gov.au/schools/barunga-school |access-date=25 January 2020 |website=Teach in the Territory |publisher=Northern Territory Government}}</ref> {{As of|2020}}, the school is developing links with Wugularr and Bulman schools through the Vocational Education and Training (VET) program.
The Bagala Community Store opened in September 2017, after local women raised the need for good food at affordable prices. It is the only store in the NT entirely owned and operated by Indigenous people. it stocks fresh produce and other foods, as well as hardware, mechanical goods, small electrical appliances as well as major appliances.<ref name="nattimes">{{cite web |date=18 October 2017 |title=New store an all-Indigenous operation |url=https://nit.com.au/new-store-indigenous-operation/ |access-date=25 January 2020 |website=National Indigenous Times}}</ref>
The community has a health clinic, camping grounds, sports oval, basketball courts, softball pitch and council office.
==Barunga Festival== thumb|Performance at Barunga Festival 2008 Bangardi Robert Lee (1952–2005), a leader of the Bagala clan of the Jawoyn people, initiated the Barunga Sport and Cultural Festival in 1985. It became an important forum for sharing ideas, showcasing the Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander cultures and talent, and to engage with social and political issues.<ref name="aiatsisbarunga">{{cite web | title=The Barunga Statement | website=Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies | date=29 May 2018 | url=https://aiatsis.gov.au/barunga-statement | access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref>
It has become an annual music and cultural celebration, held on the Queen's Birthday long weekend (second weekend) in June attracting over 4,000.<ref name="kath-times-barunga-postponed" /> It features a program of workshops, dancing ceremonies, traditional bush tucker-gathering, didgeridoo-making, basket weaving and musical performances and sport.<ref>{{cite web|title=About the festival and how to get there|url=http://barungafestival.com.au/index.php/about/|website=Barunga Festival|access-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815193149/http://barungafestival.com.au/index.php/about/|archive-date=15 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="Barunga Festival 2018">{{cite web | title=About | website=Barunga Festival | date=10 June 2018 | url=https://www.barungafestival.com.au/about | access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="Indigenous.gov.au 2018">{{cite web | title=Barunga Festival impresses again | website=Indigenous.gov.au | date=22 June 2018 | url=https://www.indigenous.gov.au/news-and-media/stories/barunga-festival-impresses-again | access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref>
In 2018, popular Tiwi band B2M played at the festival.<ref>{{cite web | last=Hennessy | first=Kate | title='It's a blackout': Barunga festival packed with music and meaning | website=The Guardian | date=15 June 2018 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/jun/15/its-a-blackout-barunga-festival-packed-with-music-and-meaning | access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
The 2020 festival was postponed from June to September, then cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 event went ahead as scheduled on 11–13 June.<ref name="kath-times-barunga-postponed">{{cite news |last1=Danks |first1=Tom |title=Barunga Festival postponed until 2021 |url=https://www.katherinetimes.com.au/story/6806780/barunga-festival-postponed-until-2021/ |access-date=19 February 2021 |work=Katherine Times |publisher=Australian Community Media |date=25 June 2020 |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref name="abc-nt-barunga-2021">{{cite news |last1=James |first1=Felicity |title=Thousands of people enjoy Northern Territory's Barunga Festival despite COVID-19 concerns |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-14/nt-barunga-festival-monday/100212044 |access-date=3 July 2021 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=13 June 2021 |language=en-AU}}</ref>
== Barunga Statement (1988) and the Barunga agreement (2018) == The Barunga Statement was presented to then Prime Minister of Australia Bob Hawke on 12 June 1988 at the Barunga Festival. It demands the recognition of Land Rights and a treaty.
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==Further reading== * [http://barungafestival.com.au/ Barunga Festival Official Website] *{{cite web | title=The Barunga Statement | website=Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies | date=29 May 2018 | url=https://aiatsis.gov.au/barunga-statement}}
{{Localities and communities of the Roper Gulf Region|state=collapsed}}
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Category:Towns in the Northern Territory Category:Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory