Maikulan

See also: Maikulan language

The Maikulan were an indigenous Australian people of the state of Queensland. They have sometimes been confused with the Maithakari.

Name

According to an earlier resident of the area, the tribal autonym referred to the native brushturkey.^[1]

Country

Norman Tindale calculated that they had roughly 7,600 square miles (20,000 km²) of territory, from the middle Norman, Yappar and Clara rivers northwards to Milgarra. Their eastern boundary lay near the Gregory Range,^[a] while the western frontier was at Iffley and Canobie.^[2][3]

History of contact

With the onset of white settlement, the tribe's demographic statistics suggested an original population of some 400 people. Within two decades, the numbers had been halved, with 200 remaining, as a result of what one observer stated was 'the rifle and syphilis'.^[1] A branch of the Maikulan soon shifted down the Norman River to settle around Normanton, which misled some early reports to take them to be indigenous to the latter area.^[2]

Alternative names

• Maikulung, Maikolon
• Makulu
• Mygoolan, Mykoolan, Mycoolon, Micoolan, Miccoolin, Mikkoolan, Mikoolun
• Mykulau (typo)

Source: Tindale 1974, p. 180

Some words

• meekoolan (white man)
• mirage (mother)
• yadoo (father)
• yalbal (wild/tame dog)

Source: Lamond 1886, p. 324