Biraban

We-pohng was born at Bahtahbah (Belmont, New South Wales) c.1800.{{sfn|Brisbane Water Historical Society|The Entrance and District Historical Society|1968|p=11}}Lake Macquarie & District Historical society, Toronto Lake Macquarie, N.S.W: The Pictorial Story, Westlake Printers, Boolaroo, 1979, p.7. During his childhood We-pohng was abducted by the British and raised within the military barracks located in Sydney.{{sfn|Threlkeld|1892|p=88}} Subsequently, We-pohng was assigned to Captain John M. Gill, a member of the [http://www.bda-online.org.au/files/MR8_Military.pdf 46th Regiment].{{sfn|Keary|2009|p=123}}{{sfn|Brisbane Water Historical Society|The Entrance and District Historical Society|1968|pp=9-14}}Lake Macquarie & District Historical society, p.7; M. Sainty, '46th Regiment of Foot', Biographical Database of Australia (BDA) [website], 2017, http://www.bda-online.org.au/files/MR8_Military.pdf , retrieved 30 September 2017{{sfn|van Toorn|2006|p=4}} We-pohng remained with Captain Gill from February 1814 until Captain Gill departed Australia in December 1817.{{sfn|Keary|2009|p=123}}{{sfn|Brisbane Water Historical Society|The Entrance and District Historical Society|1968|pp=9-14}}Lake Macquarie & District Historical society, p.7{{sfn|van Toorn|2006|p=4}} It was at this time We-pohng became fluent in English and was bestowed the name M'Gill (and its derivatives) by the captain as "a mark of his claim on the boy."{{sfn|Keary|2009|p=123}}{{sfn|Brisbane Water Historical Society|The Entrance and District Historical Society|1968|p=14}}

We-pohng, with two other young Awabakal men named Bob Barrett and We-rah-kah-tah, were assigned to Captain Francis Allman in 1821 to assist in the establishment of a penal colony at Port Macquarie, assuming the role of regional guide, interpreter and a 'bush constable'. We-pohng, We-rah-kah-tah and Bob Barrett were utilised for their tracking skills to apprehend escaping convicts.{{sfn|Keary|2009|p=123}}{{sfn|Brisbane Water Historical Society|The Entrance and District Historical Society|1968|p=15}}{{sfn|Gunson|1974|p=76}}{{cite book |first=N. |last=Gunson |title=Threlkeld, Lancelot Edward (1788–1859) |website=Australian Dictionary of Biography |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/threlkeld-lancelot-edward-2734/text3859 |access-date=26 August 2017}}

Prior to his return to Newcastle in 1825 We-pohng married Ti-pah-mah-ah, with whom he had one son, Ye-row-wa.J. Turner & G. Blyton, The Aboriginals of Lake Macquarie: A brief history Lake Macquarie City Council, New South Wales, 1995, p.39Newcastle, New South Wales, retrieved 30 September 2017.

From 1825 Biraban served as an informant to the missionary Lancelot Edward Threlkeld teaching him the Awabakal language and cosmology.{{sfn|Threlkeld|1892|p=88}}L.E. Threlkeld, 'Reminiscences of the Aborigines of New South Wales', pp. 51-62.

In 1826 Biraban experienced his Awabakal clan initiation in which he was transposed from boyhood to manhood.{{sfn|Keary|2009|p=123}}K. Austin et al., Land of Awabakal, Yarnteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation, New South Wales, 1995, p.22{{cite book |first1=J. |last1=Backhouse |first2=G.W. |last2=Walker |chapter=Extracts from the Journal of James Backhouse and G.W. Walker |editor-first=N. |editor-last=Gunson |title=Australian Reminiscences & Papers of L.E. Threlkeld Missionary to the Aborigines 1824-1859 |volume=I |publisher=Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies |location=Canberra |page=126}}J. Turner & G. Blyton, pp.40-41The University of Newcastle, 'Virtual Sourcebook for Aboriginal Studies in the Hunter Region Guide: 1830-1869', The University of Newcastle[website], 2017, Cultural Collections, http://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/aboriginalsourcebook/1830-1869 , retrieved 14 September 2017. Subsequently, Biraban acted as a spokesperson for the Awabakal clan, with part of his duties involving reporting 'assaults on Aboriginal people to Threlkeld who, in turn, reported them to the colonial authorities,' and acting as a distributor of British material goods to Aboriginal people.{{sfn|Keary|2009|p=124}}

Biraban assisted Threlkeld to establish a Mission of the London Missionary Society (LMS), and later the Colonial government Ebenezer (mission), on Awabakal land.{{sfn|Brisbane Water Historical Society|The Entrance and District Historical Society|1968|p=11}}C. Wilkes, Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, Vol. 2, Philadelphia, Lea and Blanchard, 1845, p.250; K. Clouten, Reid's Mistake: The Story of Lake Macquarie from its Discovery until 1890, Lake Macquarie Shire Council, New South Wales, 1967, pp.22-24. In preparation for the LMS Mission Biraban worked alongside two other indigenous men to fell 'trees to make room for the erection of…[a mission] house and prepare for planting some Indian corn.'{{cite book |first=L. E. |last=Threlkeld |chapter=Memoranda of Events at Lake Macquarie |editor-first=N. |editor-last=Gunson |title=Australian Reminiscences & Papers of L.E. Threlkeld Missionary to the Aborigines 1824-1859 |volume=I |publisher=Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies |location=Canberra |page=90}}

Speaking English fluently Biraban was frequently called upon by the colonial government to act as an interpreter between Aboriginal clan members and settlers.N. Gunson, 'Introduction', p.6 A notable work in which Biraban was involved was the interpretation and transcription of Christian religious texts into the Awabakal language.{{sfn|Keary|2009|p=128}}J. Turner & G. Blyton, p.40; L.E. Threlkeld, 'Memoranda of Events at Lake Macquarie', p.97Gospel of Luke, retrieved 30 September 2017. Threlkeld recognised the value of Biraban as his local teacher, writing, '[i]t was very evident that M'Gill [Biraban] was accustomed to teach his native language, for when he was asked the name of anything, he pronounced the word very distinctly, syllable by syllable, so that it was impossible to mistake it.'L.E. Threlkeld, 'Memoranda of Events at Lake Macquarie', p.88; 'Original Correspondence: Civilisation of the Blacks', The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 12 March 1831, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2199518?searchTerm=M%27Gill&searchLimits=sortby=dateAsc|||l-category=Article|||l-state=New+South+Wales|||l-decade=183 , retrieved 11 September 2017. ' It was later admitted by Threlkeld that Biraban was crucial to his translation work, with the Awabakal translation and publication of the Gospel of Luke being 'principally translated by Macgill himself.'{{cite book |author=Various |chapter=Selected Correspondence |editor-first=N. |editor-last=Gunson |title=Australian Reminiscences & Papers of L.E. Threlkeld Missionary to the Aborigines 1824-1859 |volume=II |publisher=Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies |location=Canberra |pages=177–314}}

Whilst translating Christian texts Biraban also shared with Threlkeld knowledge of Awabakal cosmology, detailing stories of Koun, Tippakal, Por-rang, and his personal life.{{cite book |first=L.E. |last=Threlkeld |chapter=Reminiscences of the Aborigines of New South Wales |editor-first=N. |editor-last=Gunson |title=Australian Reminiscences & Papers of L.E. Threlkeld Missionary to the Aborigines 1824-1859 |volume=I |publisher=Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies |location=Canberra |pages=51–62}}{{sfn|van Toorn|2006|p=46}} Biraban also incorporated Christian theology into the Awabakal cosmological order, offering a dreaming narrative, to Threlkeld, concerning Jehovah; Biraban conceptualised Jehovah as an indigenous being which appears to only men.{{sfn|Keary|2009|pp=144-145}}'The Christian Herald', The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 May 1856, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12975782?searchTerm=M%27Gill%20native%20aboriginal&searchLimits=l-title=35|||sortby=dateAsc|||l-category=Article , retrieved 14 September 2017; L.E. Threlkeld, 'Memoranda of Events at Lake Macquarie', pp.98-134{{sfn|van Toorn|2006|pp=47-52}}Jehovah, retrieved 30 September 2017. Biraban's authority within the Aboriginal clans and his ability to disseminate Christian beliefs to Aboriginal people positioned Biraban to be considered by Threlkeld as a missionary teacher, yet this plan was abandoned as Threlkeld felt Biraban was unable to be baptised due to his preference for alcoholic beverages.Various, 'Selected Correspondence', pp.271-2.

By 1830 the value Biraban's translation work was widely acknowledged. Governor Sir Ralph Darling gifted to Biraban a brass plate with the inscription: Baraban, or Macgil, Chief of the Tribe at Bartabah, on Lake Macquarie: a reward for his assistance in reducing his Native Tongue to a written language.J. Turner & G. Blyton, p.40; P. Sutton, 'Unusual Couples: Relationships and Research on the Knowledge Frontier', Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies [website], 29 May 2002, https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/docs/presentations/2002-wentworth-sutton-unusual-couples-relationships-research.pdf , retrieved 10 September 2017; 'Annual Conference with the Natives', Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 9 January 1830, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2194260 , retrieved 21 September 2017; National museum of Australia, 'Aboriginal breastplates-language teacher rewarded', National Museum of Australia, http://www.nma.gov.au/online_features/aboriginal_breastplates/language_teacher_rewarded , retrieved 20 September 2017Ralph Darling, retrieved 29 September 2017. At this time Biraban was also active in Supreme Court translations with Threlkeld. Yet, despite being fluent in English, Biraban's non-Christian status resulted with the Court dismissing Biraban as a competent witness.Macquarie University, 'R. v. Jackey [1834] NSWSupC 94', Macquarie Law School [website], 16 August 2011, Decisions of the Superior Courts of New South Wales, http://www.law.mq.edu.au/research/colonial_case_law/nsw/cases/case_index/1834/r_v_jackey/ , retrieved 25 September 2017; Macquarie University, 'R. v. Long Jack [1838] NSWSupC 44', Macquarie Law School [website], 16 August 2011, Decisions of the Superior Courts of New South Wales, http://www.law.mq.edu.au/research/colonial_case_law/nsw/cases/case_index/1838/r_v_long_jack/ , retrieved 25 September 2017; 'Law Intelligence', the Sydney Herald, 16 May 1836, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12854350?searchTerm=M%27Gill%20Threlkeld&searchLimits=sortby=dateAsc|||l-category=Article|||l-state=New+South+Wales|||l-decade=183 , retrieved 25 September 2017; 'Supreme Criminal Court', The Sydney Monitor, 25 February 1832, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32077003?searchTerm=M%27Gill&searchLimits=sortby=dateAsc|||l-category=Article|||l-state=New+South+Wales|||l-decade=183 , retrieved 25 September 2017.

Biraban died in Newcastle on 14 April 1846. A short obituary recognising his achievements was written in the Sydney Morning Herald.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28650011 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |volume=XXI |issue=2792 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=1 May 1846 |accessdate=4 January 2024 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Biraban is the inspiration for the poem The Eagle Chief.{{cite news |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2556288?searchTerm=Mrs%20Dunlop |date=21 April 1842 |title=Original Poetry |newspaper=Sydney Gazette}}

The Biraban Public School in Toronto recognises Biraban's connection to the region and work as leader and linguist.{{cite web |first=M. |last=Johns |title=The Name |website=Biraban Public School |publisher=NSW Government |year=2017 |url=http://www.biraban-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/our-school/the-name |access-date=27 September 2017}}

In the Canberra suburb of Aranda Biraban is remembered with a street named in his honour.P. Sutton, p.3Canberra, retrieved 30 September 2017.

The University of Newcastle hosts the Birabahn Cultural Trail and Birabahn Building.

• List of Indigenous Australian historical figures

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |author1=Brisbane Water Historical Society |author2=The Entrance and District Historical Society |title=The Story of the Aboriginal People of the Central Coast of New South Wales |location=Wyong, New South Wales |year=1968 }}
• {{cite book |editor-first=N. |editor-last=Gunson |title=Australian Reminiscences & Papers of L.E. Threlkeld Missionary to the Aborigines 1824-1859 |volume=I |publisher=Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies |location=Canberra |year=1974}}
• {{cite book |editor-first=N. |editor-last=Gunson |title=Australian Reminiscences & Papers of L.E. Threlkeld Missionary to the Aborigines 1824-1859 |volume=II |publisher=Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies |location=Canberra}}
• {{cite journal |first=A. |last=Keary |title=Christianity, colonialism, and cross-cultural translation: Lancelot Threlkeld, Biraban, and the Awabakal |journal=Aboriginal History |year=2009 |volume=33 |pages=117–155 |jstor=24046826 }}
• {{cite book |last=Threlkeld |first=L. E. |author-link=Lancelot Threlkeld |year=1850 |chapter=Reminiscences of Birabān |title=A key to the structure of the Aboriginal language; Being an analysis of the particles used as affixes, to form the various modifications of the verbs; Shewing the essential powers, abstract roots, and other peculiarities of the language spoke by the Aborigines in the vicinity of the Hunter River, Lake Macquarie, etc., New South Wales: Together with comparisons of Polynesian and other dialects |pages=5–7 |location=Sydney |publisher=Kemp and Fairfax }}
• {{cite book |first=L. E. |last=Threlkeld |chapter=The Key |editor-first=J. |editor-last=Fraser |title=An Australian Language as spoken by the Awabakal the people of Awaba or Lake Macquarie (Near Newcastle, New South Wales) Being an Account of Their Language, Traditions and Customs |publisher=Charles Potter |location=Sydney |year=1892 |chapter-url=https://downloads.newcastle.edu.au/library/cultural%20collections/pdf/al1892whole.pdf |pages=83–104 }}
• {{cite book |first=P. |last=van Toorn |title=Writing Never Arrives Naked: Early Aboriginal Cultures of writing in Australia |publisher=Aboriginal Studies Press |location=Canberra |year=2006 }}

• {{cite book |first=B. |last=Attwood |title=The Making of the Aborigines |publisher=Allen & Unwin, Sydney |pages=1–31}}
• {{cite web |first1=E. |last1=Stockburn |first2=G. |last2=Barker |title=Aboriginal and European Annual Meeting Days, 1814-1837 |website=Parramatta Heritage Centre |date=5 March 2014 |url=http://arc.parracity.nsw.gov.au/blog/2014/03/05/annual-meeting-of-the-aboriginal-tribes-at-parramatta/}}
• {{cite book |first=N. |last=Gunson |title=Biraban (?–?) |website=Australian Dictionary of Biography |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |chapter-url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/biraban-1781/text2003 |year=1966|chapter=Biraban }}
• {{cite journal |first=J. |last=Maynard |author-link=John Maynard (historian) |title=Awabakal voices: The life and work of Percy Haslam |journal=Aboriginal History |volume=37 |year=2013 |pages=77–92 |jstor=24046959 |doi=10.22459/AH.37.2013.04 |doi-access=free }}
• {{cite web |first=P. |last=Haslam |title=Awabakal songs from the 1950s |publisher=The University of Newcastle Library, Cultural Collections |url=https://downloads.newcastle.edu.au/library/cultural%20collections/pdf/awabakalsongs.pdf}}
• {{citation |last=Threlkeld |first=L. E. |author-link=Lancelot Threlkeld |title=Reverend Lancelot Edward Threlkeld Papers, 1822-1862 |website=Rediscovering Indigenous Languages |url=https://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au/collection-items/reverend-lancelot-edward-threlkeld-papers-1822-1862-136 |publisher=State Library of New South Wales |access-date=21 September 2017}}
• {{citation |last=Threlkeld |first=L. E. |author-link=Lancelot Threlkeld |title=Series 02: The Gospel of St Mark, translated into the language of Lake Macquarie Aborigines |website=State Library of New South Wales |year=1837 |url=http://archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110332872 |access-date=21 September 2017}}

• [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010095b.htm Australian Dictionary of Biography]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTPjS-dOKgg Stories of Our Town Birabahn and Threlkeld: Finding the Third Space]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Biraban}}

Category:1846 deaths

Category:Year of birth unknown

Category:Awabakal people