William Barak

William Barak, also Beruk, (* 1824 in Croydon, † August 15 1903 in Coranderrk ) was the last Ngurungaeta ( tribal leader ) of the Wurundjeri - Willam clan, whose members are to this day in the area around Melbourne living in Australia. Barak sat down deeply committed to social justice and the preservation of the culture of the Wurundjeri.

Life

Bebejan was his father, a tribal leader ( elder or ngurungaeta ). Barak was born as the sixth child of his family, married three times and had three children. Barak said to have been present when John Batman and eight tribal leaders allegedly signed the Batman Treaty in 1835 with his father.

Ninggalobin, Poleorong and Billibellary were not only significant Wurundjeri tribal leader, but also songs singer. The European colonization disrupted the holding of initiation ceremonies of the Aborigines. In response, the three tribal leaders gathered in the southern Yarra in the late 1830s and had the young William Barak into this secret knowledge. Here Barak were handed the symbols of manhood: strips of possum - skin, which were wrapped around his biceps, the Gombert, to cover a necklace made ​​of reed grass and a Branjep, the apron was worn by men their genitals. At the end of the ceremony Barak gave his uncle Billibellary a Possumhaut coat.

Brak visited the state Yarra Mission School from 1837 to 1839. , When he joined the Native Police Corps in 1844, it was the name of William and Baruch ( from William Barak was ) awarded and he received the Police Trooper No. 19 At the beginning of 1863, Barak went with 30 other Aborigines in the Coranderrk station, near the town of Healesville.

After the death of tribal leader Simon Wonga in 1875, he became clan leader. He campaigned for his tribe and was a successful negotiator. He was highly regarded among both Aboriginal and among the European settlers.

Painter

At Barak remember his art, showing the traditional Aboriginal life and the encounter with European ethnic groups. He had not completed any formal training as an artist. Most of his Malwerke emerged in the 1880s and 1890s in Coranderrk. They are highly valuable and are shown in leading galleries in Australia. His works are in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Victoria and the Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square in Melbourne. His work Ceremony from 1895 is on display in the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Ballarat.

Barak died in Coranderrk in 1903 and was buried in the Cemetery Coranderrk.

Naming

In 2005, the 525 meter long footbridge was in the center of Melbourne bridge the name William Barak. On the bridge of a song " proximities " is installed, which plays a Welcome song that sings partly a descendant of Barak, Joy Murphy Wandin in the language of Woiwurrung. Victor de Pury portrayed Barak and Barak called him King.