Yagan

Written by Courtney and Trinity

Sunday, 6 July 14

ContentsWhy is Yagan Famous........................... 3Why was Yagan killed........................... 4What difficulties did Yagan overcome?. 5Timeline.............................................. 6Glossary............................................ 7Index................................................. 8 Bibliography..................................... 9

Sunday, 6 July 14

Why is Yagan famous?Yagan, son of Midgioroo, was an Aboringinal Whadjuk man and leader who

fought for the rights of his people. He was born in 1795 and he lived with his group near the Swan River, Perth. His life was turned around when the European settlers arrived in 1829. He had to fight for land that was once his in order to get food for his tribe. Because the settlers hunted and scared away the local game,

Yagan began to hunt the settler’s livestock. This angered the Europens, because even though the Aboriginal people owned the land, the Europeans considered

the land ‘Terra Nullius’ which in Latin means ‘Land belonging to no one’.

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Yagan approached two young shepards that he knew and asked them for some flour. The shepards’ names were James and William Keats. When

Yagan turned, William shot him in the back, giving in to the temptation of the 330 pound reward for the killing of Yagan. Heegan, another tribesman, aimed his spear at the two brothers, but was shot by James. During the

fight, William Keats was killed. James escaped and later on and claimed the reward his brother earned. His head was preserved in a hollow tree stump.

After a few months his hair was combed, a possum fur string band wrapped around his head and a couple of black and red cockatoo feathers were

added for a tribal look.

Why was Yagan Killed?

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What Difficulties did Yagan overcome?

Because Yagan was seen as a threat to Europeans, he had to hide or fight for his life. When he moved around he had to be very cautious

because if a settler saw him, they would try to kill him for the 330 pound bounty on his head. The other danger for Yagan was that when

someone in his tribe was murdered by a settler, Yagan and a small group would avenge the tribe member’s death.

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TimelineDate Event

1795 Yagan was born in 1795. His father was named Midgigoroo, and his mother’s name was Moyran.

1829 At around 35 years old, Yagan’s rivals, the European settlers, arrive and start the Swan River Colony.

1831In 1831, Yagan was seen as a threat when he and a small group killed

a settler’s servant. William Gaze was yet to be attacked, but he escaped and had identified Yagan in the group.

1832A Noongar boy was shot and killed by a servant, so Yagan and his parents returned to where the boy was shot and killed a servant at

that same house.

1833

In 1833, Yagan was killed by William Keates. There are a few stories about it, but there is no definite truth. All that is known is that James, William’s brother, later claimed his brother’s reward for

killing Yagan.

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GlossaryGame: Animals that can be hunted such as kangaroo.

Tribe: A group in which someone belongs in.

Livestock: Animals such as sheep and cattle.

Tribesman: A man in a particular tribe.

Preserved: Kept in good condition.

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Index

Avenge, 5Carefulness, 5

Death, 4Display, 4

Food, 3Home, 3

Sentence, 5Settlers, 3

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Bibliography

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/yagan-2826

Alexandra Hasluck

3/7/14

http://www.noongarculture.org.au/yagan/

Stormbox

3/7/14

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Thank You ForReading!

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This is a statue of Yagan found on Heirisson Island

which is in the Swan River.

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This is a drawing of Yagan’s head after it

was cut off.

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This is a drawnof Yagan’s head

drawn by George Fletcher Moore.

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This is a picture ofthe box in which

Yagan’s head is in a box

Sunday, 6 July 14