Bebejan
Bebejan , (* unknown; † 1836 ) also called Jerum Jerum , was an Aborigine of the Wurundjeri , a Ngurungaeta (leader). The tribe settled in today's state of Victoria in the southeast of Australia . Around 100 Wurundjeri are said to still live in Melbourne today (2012).
He was present when the Batman's Treaty was signed in 1835 and is said to have signed it with seven other tribal leaders. This treaty is historically significant as it is the only document showing that European settlers were negotiating Aboriginal land and that it was not a no man's land .
Life
Bebejan led the Wurundjeri-Willam clans from the Voiwurrung, the Tooterrie and the Ngurailum clan from the Murchison Area. Previously these tribes were led by Barla , his mother; she was an elder of her tribe.
The Batman Treaty, signed between eight elders and John Batman in 1836 , was significant in Australian history. In the process, 2,000 square kilometers of land around Melbourne were transferred in exchange for valuables of around 100 pounds today. It is believed that the signatures were not made by the elders , but by other Aborigines. Furthermore, the legal character of this contract was completely unclear to the Aborigines, as they had a completely different idea of the use and ownership of land. Billibellary , a well-known Aboriginal leader, and Billibellary's son, William Barak , later a Wurundjeri clan leader , were also present at the dubious signing of the contract .
Bebejan was married to Jemina Burns , a white woman. They met in Melbourne, where she grew up in an Aboriginal home in Healesville where she met Bebejan. They did not get married traditionally in the Aboriginal way, but in a Christian church. After this marriage, she was given the Aboriginal name Wemba Wemba and became a member of the Murray River tribe . She inherited all the traditions of the tribe and was accepted as a voivurrung woman. Bebejan and Wemba Wemba had 13 children who were half-cast (mixed race). One of her sons was William Barak, a talented painter who succeeded Bebejan's chief as tribal leader after Bebejan's death. He is said to have been present when the contract was signed at the age of 9.
Bebejan died in 1836, about 12 months after the Batman's Treaty was signed. It is believed that he was buried at Dights Fall, where Merri Creek and Yarra River meet .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Melbourne's Fresh Water System ( Memento of the original from November 4, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved June 22, 2009
- ↑ Information about William Barak ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved June 22, 2009
- ↑ Information from Wallan Secondary College ( Memento of the original from July 25, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved June 22, 2009
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Bebejan |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Jerum Jerum |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Aboriginal leader |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 18th century or 19th century |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1836 |
| Place of death | Australia |