Culture and History of North Queensland’s Indigenous People

We are rainforest people, saltwater people, freshwater people, woodland people, island people and wetland people extending south from the Bowen region, west to the ranges around Charters Towers, and north from Townsville and Magnetic Island to the offshore islands of the Palm Group and Hinchinbrook Island and the rainforest mountains leading to the tablelands south of Cairns.

We retain cultural knowledge of all the features of this landscape including waterholes and waterfalls, islands and coral reefs, rivers and wetlands, mountains and flood plains.

We maintain kinship ties to each other but we also value new relationships based on shared experiences of dispossession. All of us have been affected by histories of violence and misguided government policies of the past.

Some of us were removed from our traditional country to live in government and mission settlements that threatened our languages and customs. Others of us have been fortunate to have always lived on or close to our traditional country, while often being powerless to speak out against destructive changes to our country.

Today we have come together, proud of our culture, and committed to passing on our knowledge as the custodians of our country

All of ‘Dreamtime Tracks’ tours and attractions reflect the diversity of our cultures and histories. From short day tours, galleries and cultural museums, through to full immersion cultural experiences over several days, Dreamtime Tracks provides everything you need for an amazing North Queensland experience.

The success of these high quality cultural education and tourism enterprises will actively support us in teaching our young people the cultural knowledge of our country, providing new employment and training opportunities, creating Reconciliation in Australia, and enhancing our health and well being.