Kaurna

Fast Facts

Type of person	Group
Principal occupation	Original occupants of the land

"We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional owners of this land.

We acknowledge their living culture and unique role in the life of this region"

Ngadlu Kaurna meyunna tampendi. Parna yerta mattanya bukkiunangko.

Ngadlu tampendi Kaurna meyunna burro purruna.

Pangkarra Womma Kaurna, Kaurnakundi yerta

The Kaurna was a single tribe sharing a common language, social organisations and belief system.

This one tribe was made up of several smaller units described as hordes.Hordes were an extended family unit containing 30-50 individuals.Hordes generally remained in their own localities.The people had adjusted well to their environment.Movements of the horde were generally determined by the seasons and availability of food supplies.

Diseases introduced by white settlers had an immediate impact on the Kaurna. It is almost certain that their numbers were considerably diminished even before white settlers arrived in Southern Australia. Contagious diseases such as tuberculosis, lung infections and venereal diseases took a great toll. The mortality rate went up and the number of children born went down.

They had lost land, tradition, livelihood and with that the basics of all their culture and social supports. Ravages of white man's disease did the rest.

Kaurna's territory consists of around 2800 square miles.

A population of 650 is recorded in the Register of 30 January 1842.

References

• Life around the Light (c) District Council of Mallala