Click on and watch this short digital Welcome to Country video – if you can’t play it click on the icon above and download the Flash plug-in.
Our mob, the Bundjalung of Byron Bay (Arakwal Bumberlin people) is one of over 500 Aboriginal tribes that co-habited Australia before European occupation. Our people, together with neighbouring tribes or clans, make up part of the wider Bundjalung Nation, extending to Grafton and the mighty Clarence River in the south, up north past Tweed River to the Nerang River in southern Queensland, and out west towards the Great Dividing Range.
We are the recognised Aboriginal Traditional Custodians of the Byron Bay district in this wider Country.This extends from Seven Mile Beach south of Broken Head to the Brunswick River up north and out to Possum Creek and the escarpment west of Byron Bay. Beyond these boundaries Country is looked after by other Aboriginal traditional owners.
Our ancestors have passed on traditions and cultural practices that are alive in us, their descendants, today. We retain a strong connection to our place, actively caring for and being in Country, sharing our knowledge and culture with the wider community. Our Country corresponds closely to the language group Minyambal on the Bundjalung tribal language area map here. Click on the map to see a larger version.
The Bundjalung of Byron Bay Aboriginal Corporation (Arakwal) was established in 1996. Its members are our people. Strengthening our Aboriginal identity and culture, and ensuring our efforts accord with our cultural values, customs and practices are a major focus of the organisation. The corporation works in partnership with government, community groups, and business enterprises to protect and help manage the land and waters of our traditional Country, and to benefit our community through improved housing, health and wellbeing, and training and work opportunities. What we are doing is focused on:
We want everyone to respect, appreciate and value Arakwal Country. We invite you to stand with us to protect and support our values, understanding how we belong to Country, respecting and helping us care for Country.
“We want to see Country how it used to be. We want to continue to look after country and want it to look after us. We want our people to be back on Country, caring for and using Country like we always have. We want to share parts of our culture with the wider community so they learn about and respect Country like we do. We want everybody to work together to keep Country clean and healthy.”
Aunties Lorna Kelly, Dulcie Nicholls and Linda Vidler, 2003.
Our website is a place for us to share our culture and passion for Country with you. It’s for our Mob, wherever you are, for learning and to keep connected as a community, sharing our challenges and belonging. It’s for our friends and colleagues to keep in touch, supporting and helping us in what we are doing. It’s for everyone else who is interested in us and our stories, our creative arts and love of Country. The following sections show you how to explore the website, and how to connect with us.
Navigating the Site: It easy just click on the Menu to the left and start exploring! We encourage you to start with our Welcome to Country and then go from there. You can read on to find out more about what is on the website, and how to move around it using the Menu.
Log in and Connect with Us! Click here and Sign-in as a Friend to receive newsletters on line and updates. If you are one of the Arakwal Mob, or want to become a Colleague you can apply for access and then use the Log-In area of the Menu.
Lots of effort and creativity have gone into developing this website so far. We would like to acknowledge those who have contributed their time and skills, and provided photos, written and digital material that you can see here. The website was developed by Sustainable Futures Australia for, and in liaison with the Arakwal People of Byron Bay, with seed funding from the Cape Byron Marine Park Authority (NSW Department of Fisheries).