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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-07/traditional-owners-celebrate-fraser-island-name-change-to-kgari/102410130>
'The world's largest sand island off the coast of Queensland, formerly known as
Fraser Island, has officially been renamed K'gari.
The landmark decision by the state government to rename the island is being
likened to the historic name change at Uluru.
Pronounced "Gurrie", K'gari means "paradise" to the Butchulla people.
K'gari will now appear on official maps and road signs.
Traditional owners say the name change symbolises something greater than
labels.
"It's been an eight-year battle to actually get [here] … the fight was a
journey of strength and courage," Butchulla elder Chris Royan said.
"As traditional owners, we have always called it K'gari – so for us to
officially get the rest of Queensland and Australia to call it K'gari, is
really important."
In local Indigenous creation stories, K'gari is the name of the White Spirit
who helped create Butchulla country.
The popular tourist destination was named Fraser Island after Captain James
Fraser and his wife Eliza, who were shipwrecked on the island in the 1830s.
Historians say after Ms Fraser was rescued, she spread stories about the local
Butchulla community that led to the dispossession and genocide of First Nations
people.'
Via Clarice Boomshakala Bouvier.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
