Murri people

Murri is a demonym for Aboriginal Australians of modern-day Queensland and north-western New South Wales. For some people and organisations, the use of Indigenous language regional terms is an expression of pride in their heritage. The term includes many ethno-linguistic groups within the area, such as the Kamilaroi (Gamilaraay) and Yuggera (Jagera) peoples.

Murri People

Regions with significant populations
Queensland, North West New South Wales
Languages
English, Maric languages (e.g. Darumbal), Bundjalung, Djabugay, Dyirbal
Related ethnic groups
Koori peoples, Nunga, Nyoongar, Palawah, Wangai, Yamatji

Many Murri people play rugby league, and the annual Murri Rugby League Carnival is a big event in the sporting calendar.

History

Many Murri were forcibly removed from their land, and placed on missions and Aboriginal reserves with other tribes with whom their relations may not have been friendly. From 1900 until 1972, a substantial number of Murri children became part of the Stolen Generations.^[1]

Along with all Australian Aboriginal people they were given suffrage in 1962 for federal elections, along with free access to Musgrave Park.^{[citation needed]}

The radio station Murri Country has been broadcast since 6 April 1993. It is operated by Brisbane Indigenous Media Association Ltd.^[2]

Ethno-linguistic groups

Many of the Murri peoples spoke languages of the Mari family, which was named after the Murri people, but ethnicity and language classifications do not correspond completely. Specific ethno-linguistic groups include:^{[citation needed]}

• Butchulla (Batjala)
• Baruŋgam
• Bayali
• Birri Gubba (Birigaba, Biria)
• Bundjalung
  • (see also Yugambeh-Bandjalangic peoples)
• Darumbal
• Djabugay
• Dyirbal (Jirrbal)
• Gangulu
• Goreng Goreng
• Gubbi Gubbi
• Guwinmal (Koinjmal)
• Jandai
• Kamilaroi (Gamilaraay)
• Mamu
• Turrbul
• Wakka Wakka
• Wangaibon
• Weilwan (Wayilwan)
• Wik peoples such as the Wik Munkin
• Yuggera (Jagera)

Murri Courts

Main article: Murri Court

Murri Courts, a type of specialist community court for sentencing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland, were established in August 2002. After being closed down by the government in September 2012 as a cost-cutting exercise,^[3] they were reopened in April 2016 under the Palaszczuk government.^[4][5]

Sport

Since 2011, the annual Murri Rugby League Carnival has been held with the support of the Arthur Beetson Foundation and the Deadly Choices organisation. Through the four-day Carnival, players are selected to represent the Queensland Murri Rugby League team to participate against touring teams in Australia or other countries.

Terminology

For some people and organisations, the use of indigenous language regional terms is an expression of pride in their heritage.^[6] There are a number of other demonyms, or names from Australian Aboriginal languages commonly used to identify groups based on geography:

• Anangu in northern South Australia, and neighbouring parts of Western Australia and Northern Territory
• Pama in northern Queensland
• Koori in New South Wales and Victoria
• Nunga in southern South Australia
• Noongar (or Nyoongar) in southern Western Australia
• Palawa (or Pakana) in Tasmania
• Wangai in central Western Australia
• Yamatji in the Gascoyne and Pilbara regions of Western Australia
• Yolngu in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory

Notable Murri people

• Ben Barba, rugby league footballer^{[citation needed]}
• Matt Bowen, rugby league footballer
• Kev Carmody, singer/songwriter
• Wesley Enoch, playwright and artistic director
• Dane Gagai, rugby league footballer
• Justin Hodges, rugby league footballer
• Jackie Huggins, historian and writer
• Rita Huggins, Aboriginal activist
• Marcia Langton, writer and academic
• Robert Lui, rugby league footballer
• Leah Purcell, actress, film director and writer
• Chris Sandow, rugby league footballer
• Johnathan Thurston, rugby league footballer
• Travis Waddell, rugby league footballer
• Chelsea Watego, academic and writer
• Quaden Bayles, actor^[7]

• 
  Ben Barba
• 
  Matt Bowen
• 
  Dane Gagai
• 
  Justin Hodges
• 
  Jackie Huggins
• 
  Marcia Langton
• 
  Robert Lui
• 
  Leah Purcell
• 
  Chris Sandow
• 
  Johnathan Thurston
• 
  Travis Waddell

See also

• Indigenous Collection (Miles District Historical Village)
• Murri Country, a radio station in Brisbane, Australia
• Murri School, a school in Brisbane