Fraser Island Officially Restored to Indigenous Name K’gari
The world’s largest sand island located off the coast of Queensland, formerly known as Fraser Island, has officially been renamed K’gari. The landmark decision by the state government to rename the island is being likened to the historic name change at Uluru. The island’s new name gained widespread support as Queensland’s Department of Resources launched a survey calling for public feedback on the name change. Traditional owners said that the name change symbolizes something greater than labels and recognizes the people who have cared for the land for over 60,000 years. Four title deeds for more than 19 hectares of land on K’gari have been handed back to the Butchulla people.
Renaming as Reclaiming
Fraser Island was named after Eliza Fraser, a Scottish woman who was shipwrecked on the island in the 1830s. Historians believe that after Ms. Fraser was rescued, she spread stories about the local Butchulla community that led to the dispossession and genocide of First Nations people. As traditional owners stated, “We basically call this the ‘reclaiming’, not the ‘renaming’. It’s time for the real story to be told. It’s a sad story but it’s the real story.”
A Significant Change
The Butchulla people’s creation stories acknowledge K’gari as the name of the White Spirit who helped create their country. In native Butchulla language, the word means “paradise”, pronounced as “Gurrie”. The name change is about recognizing the people who have cared for the land for more than 60,000 years.
The decision by the Queensland government is significant as the new name symbolizes reconciliation between First Nations people and Australian society. While renaming may appear like a small issue, it has a significant impact on First Nations peoples’ cultural reconciliation. The process of reclaiming the historical and traditional names of places is part of a broader process of decolonization and reconciliation with First Nations peoples.
Tourism Boost and Change Adjustment
Fraser Island, now called K’gari, is a popular tourist destination enjoyed by millions of tourists. The island’s cultural history makes it a tourism mecca. James Shulmeister, a professor of Earth and Environment on the World Heritage Committee of K’gari, said, “We talk about K’gari as a natural landscape, but it’s actually a cultural landscape. All the trees and all the landscape that you see is actually a result of 60,000 to 70,000 years of Indigenous occupation and Butchulla land management. Without that, the island would actually look completely different.”
However, adjusting to the name change may be challenging for some people, particularly tourists. Chairperson of Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, Gale Minniecon, acknowledged this. She said, “People will feel that they can’t deal with the change. They will experience loss, but it won’t be anywhere near the loss that our old people experienced back then. They didn’t have their heart, their soul, their spirit broken.”
Final Thoughts
The official restoration of Fraser Island to its Indigenous name K’gari symbolizes the recognition and appreciation of First Nations peoples’ history, culture, and identity. Renaming as reclaiming emphasizes the importance of traditional names and the need to rectify Australia’s history. The landmark decision by the Queensland government is a step towards reconciliation between First Nations peoples and Australian society. It is crucial to acknowledge and respect the traditional owners of Australia’s land, culture, and identity to move forward towards a more equitable and inclusive future.
<< photo by Jeremy Del Rosario >>
