11 more Aboriginal and Dual Names to go to Nomenclature Board in June 2017
11 palawa kani Names for places are ready to be sent to the Tasmanian Government’s Nomenclature Board to consider in their June 2017 meeting. These are names for 9 places at Cape Grim; and for 2 waterfalls which do not already have names – one in Launceston and one in Hobart. The previous two batches of names each took about twelve months to be assigned so we can expect this to be another very long process.
A group of Aborigines visiting pilri as part of Preminghana Camp 2017
NINE PLACES at CAPE GRIM
We propose that 3 offensive names in this region be replaced with the original Aboriginal names and that 3 other places are assigned dual names. For another 3 places which do not have European names, we propose the reinstatement of the original names. These name changes are provided for in the Tasmanian Government’s Aboriginal and Dual Naming Policy for the Naming of Tasmanian Geographic Features 2012.
Booklet cover. Click to open.
REPLACE 3 OFFENSIVE NAMES:
luwuka now named ‘Suicide Bay’
timuk now named ‘Victory Hill’
karanutung now named ‘Niggerhead Rock’
Under Policy Principle 2.5: That consideration will be given to renaming places or features where the existing name is considered offensive to the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.
No original name is known for ‘Niggerhead Rock’; but this situation is covered in Policy Principle 2.4: That where a traditional place name is not known as a consequence of the disruption of Aboriginal occupation and language, the use of another Aboriginal name as a place name is also acceptable where the meaning of the word is appropriate for its intended use.
3 DUAL NAMES:
pilri/Cape Grim
ranamitim /The Doughboys (Islands)
layrimanuk/Woolnorth Point
Under Policy Principle 2.2: That a dual naming system be adopted by which Aboriginal names can be applied to geographic features and places that already bear registered names and when a name change is not possible or acceptable. Both will be registered names, and both names will be used together in the future and appear together on all official documents and maps.
In this same NW area, titima/Trefoil Island has been an official dual name since 2016.
NAMES FOR 3 UNNAMED PLACES:
taynayuwa the cliff where the people were killed – location of the Cape Grim massacre
nakali the cave opposite the Doughboys
ranapim taynamun point of land opposite Victory Hill
Under Policy Principle 2.1: That preference is given to Aboriginal place names for any geographic feature or place that does not already have an existing official name.
We have found no English names for these 3 places. If they do turn out to already have official names, we can propose instead the places be dual named.
More information about these 9 names and the history of events at Cape Grim can be seen in the pilri/Cape Grim – Our Story is in our country and its names booklet.
See also: waranta tangara takariliya ngini, krakapaka pilri-ta.
