About Us
The Sovereign Native Tribes of the Kabi First Nation State are the Kabi Bunya Peoples of the Gympie Region. We work to maintain and protect Kabi Bunya Djha and Kabi ancient and sacred sites from desecration and destruction by government agencies and developers. We are not funded by Government.
Pictured below is Kabi representative Wit-boooka at one of the stone constructions of the Kabi ancient sacred landscape site of Djaki Kundu, also sometimes referred to as 'The Gympie Pyramid'. Djaki Kundu includes caves, stone 'terrace' walls, standing stones, extensive grinding grooves for food and medicine preparation, stone engravings and buried tribal relics. Bora and Kippa rings in the vicinity were unfortunately damaged in the past by previous colonial invaders. The sacred site is also a healing place, and is a ceremonial place situated on a Seven Sisters Songline, and connected to other sacred sites by the Wirra water spirit dreaming. Djaki Kundu is a place to learn about and communicate with Kabi tribal Ancestral spirits.
Above: Wit-boooka at one of the stone constructions of the Kabi ancient sacred landscape site of Djaki Kundu.
The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads were aware of the significance of the site to Kabi Bunya Peoples, but planned to destroy it by constructing major roads through the sacred site. An attempt in the Queensland Supreme court to obtain an injunction to prevent the road construction by QTMR failed, however Kabi Guardians of Djaki Kundu proved we had a right to protect the site and Minister Bailey subsequently wanted to mediate, and allow us limited access to a small portion of the site conditional to 'destructive works' occurring on the rest. Needless to say we rejected that idea!
We asked Sussan Ley to intervene and prevent Minister Bailey and his agents from breaking Laws which prevent the destruction of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and Relics in Australian Jurisdictions. We provided her with proof the site is significant, not only to Kabi but other tribes who are connected by songlines and dreaming stories to our sacred site.
Above: Darkie, Wit-boooka, Henry and Zach uncovered ancient grinding grooves for bush food and medicine.
Minister Bailey told his contractors not to enter Djaki Kundu, and said he would wait for the Federal Minister Sussan Ley to finish her deliberations. QTMR Solicitors again offered mediation. Tribal guardians of Djaki Kundu stated they would engage in a future meeting with QTMR solicitors at Djaki Kundu and forwarded terms acceptable to us, which should include a representative appointed in writing by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and a representative of the Australian Foreign Affairs Department.
Members of the Sovereign Native Tribes of the Kabi First Nation State continued our Bunya Law/Lore Gatherings at Djaki Kundu, which began on January 25th 2021. We were engaged in healing and protective ceremonies, teaching visitors about the sacred site and Kabi culture and beliefs and we continue as always to work in the Spirit of the Wirritjin (Blackfellas and Whitefellas dreaming all together).
Above: Tribal guardian Wit-boooka instructing visitors at Djaki Kundu. Photo kindly supplied by Lila B Dank.
Unfortunately on the 14th October the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads engaged Queensland Police to remove us from Djaki Kundu to allow for a large part of the sacred site to be destroyed for their road construction. This happened despite the fact that the Federal Minister has not made a final section 10 determination in accordance with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth). Numerous Kabi people and their supporters were charged, and after many court mentions, all charges were discontinued against eight members of the Sovereign Kabi Tribe and their supporters on 1st March 2023, after the Police Prosecutor announced she would not be providing any evidence. Subsequently all other charges against all other people involved were also discontinued.
With the blessing of our Sovereign Kabi Tribal Council of Elders, Kabi tribal guardians of Djaki Kundu continue to work to protect what remains of Djaki Kundu and related sacred sites. We thank all the people assisting us and donating to our legal fighting fund to assist with the protection of Kabi sacred sites. If you wish to assist you can donate via our go fund me page: https://gofund.me/167f0796