Cultural Identity & Country

We are the people of the Pairrebeene /Trawlwoolway clans. We are direct descendants of the Coastal Plains Nation of Trouwunna (northeast Tasmania). We trace our heritage through our ancestral grandfather Mannalargenna, the revered bungana (leader) of the Coastal Plains Nation, or our ancestral grandmothers, Tyereelore (Bass Strait women).

The people of the Coastal Plains Nation include us, the Pairrebeene / Trawlwoolway clans, and the Peeberrangner, Leenerrerter, Pinterrairer, Pyemmairrenerpairrener, Leenethmairrener and Plennerremairemenner clans. The clan estates within our nation relate to the major riverways flowing from our high Country out into our sea Country.

Our Country is Trouwunna, the northeast of Lutruwita (Tasmania), where our ancestors have lived, travelled, cared for Country, and shared knowledge for countless generations.

The lands, waters, and skies of the Coastal Plains Nation are deeply connected to our culture, identity, and way of life. They hold the stories, traditions, and knowledge that have been passed down through generations and continue to shape our community today.

As a community, we hold strong connections to Country and strong aspirations to care for and protect it for future generations. Through cultural practice, community gatherings, land and sea management, and the sharing of knowledge, we continue to celebrate and strengthen our relationship with Country.

When colonising farmers and convicts from England first invaded our Trouwunna lands and established settlements in 1803, our population was estimated between 3,000 and 7,000.

Early governors of Tasmania made proclamations placing the colony under martial law and calling for Aborigines to be expelled by force from the settled districts, including the infamous “Black Line” military campaign of 1830 (Clements, 2014). Aboriginal people were removed from mainland Lutruwita to the Wybalenna settlement on Flinders Island – under a false promise of a return to their traditional lands in the future. Wybalenna was run by Christian missionaries who oppressed the use of our languages and sharing of Creation stories with younger generations. Of those interned at Wybalenna, 72% died before survivors were relocated to Oyster Cove, south of Hobart, in 1847.

Today we mainly live in Trouwunna lands and in other areas of Lutruwita (Tasmania). In 2008 we established our own not-for-profit organisation - Melaythenner Teeackana Warrana (Heart of Country) Aboriginal Corporation (MTWAC). We founded MTWAC with the intent to strengthen and sustain the deep cultural knowledge that resides in our elders, our community and our landscape. Guided by a strategic plan and building capacity plan, the purpose of the organisation is to preserve and practice our traditional and contemporary cultural knowledge, protect our traditional lands and sea Country, provide health and wellbeing programs for our community, and develop employment and business opportunities. There are approximately 400 members of MTWAC.

We hold strong aspirations to resume custodial responsibilities across the lands, seas and skies of the Coastal Plains Nation.

We are an active and committed community, guided by a circle of elders who celebrate, share and practice the culture and knowledge that has been passed down to us from our ancestors.  As part of our ethos of celebrating, sharing and practicing, we hold a major Community event every year on Tebrakunna to celebrate the life of Mannalargenna – our ancestral grandfather, the revered Bungana (leader) and formidable warrior of the clans of the Coastal Plains Nation. Mannalargenna was born on Tebrakunna Country in the far northeast and died on 4th December 1835 in exile at Wybalenna. See our Events page for information on the upcoming Mannalargenna Day