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| "Biraban (McGill)",
1839, from John Fraser's, An Australian Language (Fraser
1892: 88a.) |
Welcome to Awaba, an electronic database
and guide to the history, culture and language of the Indigenous
peoples of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region of NSW.
"Awaba" is the Aboriginal name for
Lake Macquarie, a drowned river estuary near the modern city of
Newcastle, New South Wales, and "Awabakal" is the name
of the people who come from this area, and the language they once
spoke.
From this site you can access over 100 documents
and materials about the Awabakal people and language. It also
provides a thematic guide to these materials, with contributions
prepared by various locally-based scholars, writers and community
leaders. Follow the links to articles on Awabakal Bibliography,
Culture, History,
Images, Language,
People and Places.
Awaba is the product of collaboration between
the University's School of Liberal Arts and Wollotuka School of
Aboriginal Studies, in partnership with representatives of the
Awabakal Aboriginal community. The project accords with the University's
proposed Charter
of Aboriginal Reconciliation, which will formalise a commitment
to bring Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians together through
consultation and cooperation amongst university staff and members
of local Aboriginal communities.
The Awaba website was launched by Mrs
Nola Hawken of the Awabakal community on 16 October 2002 as
part of the Birabahn Cultural Festival which marked the opening
ceremonies of the Birabahn Building. This building houses the
Wollotuka
School of Aboriginal Studies and Umulliko, a National Centre
for Excellence in Indigenous Research.
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