Yagan warrior of the Noongar people
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Yagan (c.1795-1833) was an Aboriginal warrior of the Noongar (Nyungar) people in Western Australia. In 1829, when Captain James Stirling established a colony on the Swan River, he proclaimed the Noongar people British subjects, giving them little choice but to accept the decision.
Over the following years, Yagan, learnt to speak basic English and often conversed with influential settlers about the inequality and injustice placed on his people.
The Noongar people struggled with the settlers taking over their hunting grounds and fencing off important areas such as the river. This resulted in Aboriginals stealing settlers food and killing livestock to survive.
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In the pursuing years Yagan found himself in trouble with the law and in 1832 was sentenced to exile on the uninhabited, Carnac Island. However, Yagan had other ideas and it wasn’t long before he had escaped off the island.
In 1833 Yagan was amongst three Aboriginal warriors who were declared outlaws when two white servants were speared on the Canning River. A bounty of £30 was put on his head.
On July 11, 1833 Yagan was shot and killed by brothers, William and James Keats. Nineteen year old William Keats who fired the gun was killed by Yagan’s friends whilst James escaped via the river.
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Yagan’s head was later cut off by soldiers and preserved by smoking it in a hollow tree stump for several months. The rest of his body was buried near where he was killed in Belhus (near Guildford).
Yagan’s head ended up being head sent to London where it was exhibited at museums before being buried at the Everton Cemetery. A group of Aboriginal Elders, led by Ken Colbung, located Yagan’s burial site and demanded Yagan’s head be returned to his homeland.
In 1997 the elders finally suceeded in having Yagan's remains returned to his people in Western Australia.
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