Jandamarra: remembrance and Bunuba resistance

1 April 1897 · Remembrance

Content note: This page discusses death, violence or the ongoing impacts of injustice and may be distressing. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that it may name people who have died. Please choose whether and when to continue.

On 1 April 1897, Bunuba resistance leader Jandamarra was killed at Tunnel Creek in the Kimberley. This calendar marks the date as remembrance and a point for learning about Bunuba defence of Country.

Bunuba resistance and continuing memory

The National Museum’s account identifies the date and includes the perspective of Bunuba Elder June Oscar. The Australian Dictionary of Biography provides further historical context. These sources should be read with attention to the distinction between colonial descriptions and Bunuba remembrance.

More than a colonial pursuit

An account centred only on police pursuit can obscure the invasion of Country and the reasons for resistance. Jandamarra’s story belongs within the history of Bunuba people and their relationships with the Kimberley landscape.

The date should not be treated as a celebration of his death. It can honour courage, continuing community memory and the people who share this history. Avoid sensationalising violence or turning the story into a contest over who was the most formidable fighter.

Publicly shared Bunuba perspectives are important to the way the history is told. A biographical summary or museum page is an introduction, not permission to reproduce restricted stories or treat significant places as an unrestricted setting for activities.

Remembering with care

Compare the emphasis of a colonial account with a Bunuba perspective preserved by the Museum. Whose purposes shaped the story, and what changes when Country and community are placed at its centre?

Approach this history with care for descendants, families and communities. Use the linked sources to understand the particular place and people, and follow local guidance about appropriate remembrance. Participation in discussion should be a choice; nobody should be asked to share personal or family experiences.

Sources and further reading

• West Kimberley community stories — National Museum of Australia
• Jandamarra — Australian Dictionary of Biography, Indigenous Australia

Our related products and resources

We do not currently offer products or learning resources specifically for this date. The reading links above are provided for background and further learning. Suitable items from our range will be added here as they become available.