Kowanyama

Language groups: Yir Yoront (or Kokominjen), Kokoberra, Kokoberrin, Yirthangedl and the ‘Top End Mob’ (Kunjen and Olkola)

Kowanyama is located in western Cape York Peninsula around 300 kilometres south of Weipa. Meaning ‘place of many waters’ Kowanyama is located on the Mitchell River. Cultural and economic activity revolves around the Mitchell River and its resources, with its traditional story places and local fishing sites. Kowanyama has a population of close to 900 with three main language groups in the community which are defined by their relationship to the River.

Kowanyama Mission — formerly known as Mitchell River Mission — was founded around 1917 by the Anglican Church. In 1964 Cyclone Dora destroyed the mission and state government funds were used to rebuild the community. Three years later the church handed control of the mission to the then Department of Aboriginal and Islander Affairs. The mission became a government-administered reserve known as Kowanyama, with European-style houses replacing the mission's thatched buildings. In 1987 the community was given DOGIT (Deed of Grant in Trust) status over the Mitchell River Delta, an area of 250 square kilometres, and has since been governed by the community-elected Kowanyama Aboriginal Council.

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Online references . . .

Visit the Kowanyama website.