2. Contents
Why is Yagan Famous........................... 3
Why was Yagan killed........................... 4
What difficulties did Yagan overcome?. 5
Timeline.............................................. 6
Glossary............................................ 7
Index................................................. 8
Bibliography..................................... 9
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3. Why is Yagan famous?
Yagan, son of Midgioroo, was an Aboringinal Whadjuk man and leader who
fought for the rights of his people. He was born in 1795 and he lived with his
group near the Swan River, Perth. His life was turned around when the European
settlers arrived in 1829. He had to fight for land that was once his in order to get
food for his tribe. Because the settlers hunted and scared away the local game,
Yagan began to hunt the settler’s livestock. This angered the Europens, because
even though the Aboriginal people owned the land, the Europeans considered
the land ‘Terra Nullius’ which in Latin means ‘Land belonging to no one’.
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4. Yagan approached two young shepards that he knew and asked them for
some flour. The shepards’ names were James and William Keats. When
Yagan turned, William shot him in the back, giving in to the temptation of the
330 pound reward for the killing of Yagan. Heegan, another tribesman,
aimed his spear at the two brothers, but was shot by James. During the
fight, William Keats was killed. James escaped and later on and claimed the
reward his brother earned. His head was preserved in a hollow tree stump.
After a few months his hair was combed, a possum fur string band wrapped
around his head and a couple of black and red cockatoo feathers were
added for a tribal look.
Why was Yagan
Killed?
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5. What Difficulties did
Yagan overcome?
Because Yagan was seen as a threat to Europeans, he had to hide or
fight for his life. When he moved around he had to be very cautious
because if a settler saw him, they would try to kill him for the 330 pound
bounty on his head. The other danger for Yagan was that when
someone in his tribe was murdered by a settler, Yagan and a small group
would avenge the tribe member’s death.
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6. Timeline
Date Event
1795
Yagan was born in 1795. His father was named Midgigoroo, and his
mother’s name was Moyran.
1829
At around 35 years old, Yagan’s rivals, the European settlers, arrive
and start the Swan River Colony.
1831
In 1831, Yagan was seen as a threat when he and a small group killed
a settler’s servant. William Gaze was yet to be attacked, but he
escaped and had identified Yagan in the group.
1832
A Noongar boy was shot and killed by a servant, so Yagan and his
parents returned to where the boy was shot and killed a servant at
that same house.
1833
In 1833, Yagan was killed by William Keates. There are a few stories
about it, but there is no definite truth. All that is known is that
James, William’s brother, later claimed his brother’s reward for
killing Yagan.
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7. Glossary
Game: Animals that can be hunted such as kangaroo.
Tribe: A group in which someone belongs in.
Livestock: Animals such as sheep and cattle.
Tribesman: A man in a particular tribe.
Preserved: Kept in good condition.
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