Truganini
- Born:
- c. 1812, Bruny Island (Lunawanna-Alonnah), Tasmania
- Died:
- May 8, 1876, Hobart, Tasmania
- Nationality:
- Aboriginal Tasmanian (Palawa)
- Profession(s):
- Cultural Informant, Aboriginal Advocate, Symbol of Tasmanian Aboriginal Loss
Early Life and Education
- Born on Bruny Island to Mangana, a tribal elder.
- Learned traditional Palawa customs and language.
- Experienced early contact with European sealers and whalers.
- Witnessed the increasing encroachment of European settlers on Aboriginal land.
Career and Major Achievements
- Assisted George Augustus Robinson, Protector of Aborigines, in his mission to relocate Aboriginal people to Flinders Island.
- Served as a cultural informant and translator for Robinson, though her role and motivations are debated by historians.
- Traveled extensively with Robinson throughout Tasmania.
- Lived for a time on Flinders Island and later at Oyster Cove (Putalina).
Legacy and Impact
Truganini became a potent symbol of the devastating impact of British colonization on the Aboriginal population of Tasmania. In the years following her death, a common misconception arose that she was the last full-blooded Aboriginal Tasmanian, though this was inaccurate. Her remains were exhumed and displayed at the Tasmanian Museum, a deeply controversial act that fueled demands for their repatriation. Her story continues to be debated and reinterpreted as a central narrative in Tasmanian history and Aboriginal identity.
Notable Works
- Provided linguistic and cultural information to George Augustus Robinson, recorded in his journals (available in archival collections).
- Her story has been documented and interpreted in numerous historical texts, films, and artistic works.