Arakwal

Bundjalung people
Aka: Badjalang (Tindale)(Horton) Bandjalang (SIL)
South Eastern Queensland bioregion
Hierarchy
Language family:	Pama–Nyungan
Language branch:	Bandjalangic
Language group:	Bundjalung
Group dialects:	Arakwal Baryulgal Dinggabal Gidabal Minjungbal Nganduwal Njangbal Waalubal Wiyabal(a.k.a. Widje) Wudjeebal. Yugumbir
Area (approx. 6,000 sq. km)
Location:	North-eastern New South Wales
Coordinates:	29°15′S 152°55′E / 29.250°S 152.917°E / -29.250; 152.917Coordinates: 29°15′S 152°55′E / 29.250°S 152.917°E / -29.250; 152.917
Mountains:	McPherson Range Mount Warning (a.k.a. Wollumbin )
Rivers	Lower reaches of Clarence River a.k.a. Breimba; Tweed River; Richmond River
Other geological:	Cape Byron
Urban areas:	Ballina Beaudesert Casino Gold Coast Grafton Lismore Tabulam Tweed Heads Warwick Woodenbong

The Bundjalung people (a.k.a. Bunjalung, Badjalang & Bandjalang) are Aboriginal Australians who are the original custodians of northern coastal areas of New South Wales (Australia), located approximately 550 kilometres (340 mi) northeast of Sydney, an area that includes the Bundjalung National Park and Mount Warning (known to the Bundjalung people as Wollumbin ("rainmaker")).

Bundjalung people all share in common descent from ancestors who once spoke as their first, preferred language, one or more of the dialects of the Bandjalang language.

The Arakwal people are a sub-group or tribe of the Bundjalung people of Byron Bay.

Norman Tindale's (1974) Catalogue of Australian Aboriginal tribes identifies the identifying Baryulgal dialect (Badjalang) country as follows:

"From northern bank of Clarence River to Richmond River; at Ballina; inland to Tabulam and Baryugil, up to Bundaberg."

The Bundjalung people believe the spirits of wounded warriors are present within the mountains, their injuries having manifested themselves as scars on the mountainside, and thunderstorms in the mountains recall the sounds of those warriors' battles.

Wollumbin itself is the site at which one of the chief warriors lies, and it is said his face can still be seen in the mountain's rocks when viewed from the north.

Much of the Bundjalung peoples culture and heritage continues to be celebrated.

Nowadays people gather annually in the Bundjalung national park as a community to celebrate as a Bundjalung People's Gathering.

"We want to celebrate our Aboriginal traditions and customs. We want to share them with other people and show them our beliefs and our culture is still alive today, it hasn't been lost" - Chris Phillips, event organizer"

On these occasions traditional garments are often worn by the Bundjalung peoples, who partake in custodial dances and other performances.

In November 2007 the Federal Court made a positive determination regarding the existence of native title within Githabul country.