User:Javants/Sandbox2

This is a sandbox relating to Javants' project Kulin. For other sandboxes, see here.

Kulin Kulin (Kúwurrung)
Capital and largest city	Nárrm
Official languages	Various. Kúwurrung most widely spoken.
Ethnic groups (2022)	65.4% Aboriginal Australians 21.3% White 14.3% other
Demonym(s)	Kulin
Government	TBD
• TBD	TBD
Legislature	Ta'Hazakiyon
• Upper house	Sankazok  ∟Taza'Zhazhanin  ∟Hakidukor
• Lower house	Zhahokun  ∟Sanka No-Mahuzokin  ∟Sanka No-Sankuvanin
Formation
• TBD	TBD
• TBD	TBD
• TBD	TBD
• TBD	TBD
Area
• Total	635,133 km2 (245,226 sq mi) (68th)
• Water (%)	3.2
Population
• 2022 estimate	41,682,419
• 2020 census	41,648,106
• Density	65.6/km2 (169.9/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2022 estimate
• Total	$1,005,692,831
• Per capita	$24,128
Gini (2020)	37.8 medium
HDI (2022)	0.845 very high
Currency	Mák’ai T'ula (₮) (MTL)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	TBD
ISO 3166 code	MK
Internet TLD	.mk

Overarching idea - Kulin tribes around Victoria developed agriculture and settled several thousand years ago, developing into a more sedentary nation state. This state was able to survive colonisation and exists in the modern world as the only indigenous state in Australia. The core indigenous group is fictional but is related to IRL south-eastern Pama-Nyungan groups such as the Wurundjeri. The core interest in this project is in seeing how indigenous Australian cultural ideas (particularly those surrounding language and kinship) might translate into the context of a modern state if developed naturally.

Background OT historical information

Approximate distribution of five Kulin tribes prior to colonisation.

• Kulin nation - alliance of five Aboriginal groups around Port Philip - Wurundjeri (Woi-Wurrung), Boonwurrung, Wathaurong, Taungurung, and Dja Dja Wurrung.
• Kulin had lived in the area for around 40,000 years. Agriculture developed approximately 10,000 years ago. While there is evidence of agriculture in Aboriginal Australia, in this alternate timeline this occurs to a much greater extent with the development of cities around OT Melbourne-area.
• Europeans arrived around 1830.
• Bundjil (eagle) and Waa (raven) are two most important creator spirits in Kulin Dreaming.
• Historically Kulin not allies with the Kurnai to the east.
• Extensive trade networks with NSW/SA.

Hypothetical timeline

• Sixth Kulinic group - the Kútjeri (Kúwurrung) - who inhabit the area immediately around Melbourne (OT Wurrundjeri and Boonwurrung pushed further east) from antiquity.
• Kútjeri become sedentary some 8-10 thousand years ago, establishing a sizeable settlement in what is now Nárrm (Melbourne).
• Whole Kulin area becomes broadly agricultural over the next few millennia, in many cases abandoning traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyles for lives in agricultural villages or cities. Nárrm is the only real 'city' in this period Kulin, but other major settlements begin to emerge in the other five tribal areas. These eventually form proto-states, although not in a Western sense (as language is still an important divider, for example, but they typically form a single unified 'Kulin' entity).
• Kulin states at various points unite and disunite. Formation of an early kind of government based in Nárrm. As the most powerful state, this becomes the administrative head of the eventual Kulin state. 'Kulin' exists for thousands of years as a concept, but what it means at different points in terms of its make up of the different indigenous sub-states varies significantly.
• Forms essentially its earliest modern form around 1600 or so. Europeans arrive around 200 years later.
• European arrival a disaster - a lot of disease, although Kulin have advantage of strong country knowledge and medical advancements beyond those of the colonisers.
• In response to the European threat, neighbouring tribes ask to join Kulin as 'protectorates' - these often form a contested area and it is here where the worst coloniser-indigenous events happen.
• Signing of a treaty after a disastrous war - not beneficial to the Kulin but does bring peace. Widespread economic hardship and political turmoil.
• Ethnic conflict between whites and Kulins in the 20th century.
• Modern state relatively well off but with some significant colonial legacies.

Government

• Federal to a certain extent - each individual tribe has their own local government.
• The national government is bicameral - a very large lower house and a very small upper house consisting of members from each tribe.
• Title of elder (TBD) used, no real 'kings' or 'chiefs' in traditional OT society, instead just highly respected and senior-initiated chiefs.
• Head of state also a religious head? Incarnation of Bundjil?
• IRL knowledge:
  • Most indigenous Australians were egalitarian (apart from women being subordinate to men). Some groups had 'Big Men', essentially men of important ritual role that transitioned into positions of secular importance.
  • Essentially age the biggest factor in social status - the older, the more respected.
  • Socialisation and a creation of a sense of shame for wrongdoing most effective in mitigating crime.
  • Authority also often based along kinship lines.
  • Lower Murray - tendi of clan heads that met to resolve disputes between neighbouring groups.
  • Social importance associated with ritual importance - therefore a link between government and religion.
  • Men had wider social obligations than women.
  • Extreme importance above maintenance of Dreaming traditions as 'the Law', rather than obedience to particular people. How might this play out in a larger state?

Geography

• Each of the six core Kulin states has their own 'seat':
  • Kútjeri - Nárrm (Melbourne)
  • Wurrundjeri - Warragul
  • Boonwurrung - Djémbana (Moe)
  • Taungurong - Má Yilam (Benalla)
  • Wathaurong - Bala Arat (Ballarat), Djílang (Geelong)
  • Dja Dja Wurung - Dja Dja Welam (Bendigo)

Language (Kúwurrung)

• Vowels have length distinction indicated by acute accent.
• Standard four-way laminal-apical distinction (see Woiwurrung-Taungurung language).