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Biraban ( – 14 April 1846) was a leader of the Awabakal people, an Aboriginal Australian people who lived in the area around what is today Lake Macquarie. His Endonym prior to Awabakal initiation was We-pohng; his naming as Biraban is reference to his relationship with the eaglehawk.
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.
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.
In 1826 Biraban experienced his Awabakal clan initiation in which he was transposed from boyhood to manhood.K. Austin et al., Land of Awabakal, Yarnteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation, New South Wales, 1995, p.22J. Turner & G. Blyton, pp.40-41The University of Newcastle, 'Virtual Sourcebook for Aboriginal Studies in the Hunter Region Guide: 1830-1869', The University of Newcastlewebsite , 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.
Biraban assisted Threlkeld to establish a Mission of the London Missionary Society (LMS), and later the Colonial government Ebenezer (mission), on Awabakal land.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 house and prepare for planting some Indian corn.'
Whilst translating Christian texts Biraban also shared with Threlkeld knowledge of Awabakal cosmology, detailing stories of Koun, Tippakal, Por-rang, and his personal life. 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.'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.98-134Jehovah, 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. 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'
, 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.
The Biraban Public School in Toronto recognises Biraban's connection to the region and work as leader and linguist.
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.
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