Discovering the Makassan Legacy: A Journey Through Time with Coral Expeditions
By Ian Morris & Goyma Gondarra, Guest Lecturers
HISTORICAL TIES FROM SULAWESI: IAN MORRIS
Ian Morris is a zoologist, educator, conservationist, and author who has worked with Coral Expeditions since 1987, promoting the magic of the bush and valuing his lifelong associations with Indigenous peoples across northern Australia.
“Sulawesi, our near-neighbour, is a stunning and varied island, both environmentally and culturally. Very few Australians are even aware of the strong cultural links between the people of northern Australia and the people of eastern Indonesia, long before Captain James Cook came across the Australian shoreline. This Makassan Legacy is a source of pride for Aboriginal people, as reflected in their oral and cultural history.
Makassar, in Sulawesi, was the main centre of trade in marine products from Australia during the 19th Century. The value of our aquatic resources increased when the Dutch took over the Spice Trade in Indonesia, restricting Indonesian involvement in trade. Trepang, or sea cucumber, which the Dutch had no interest in, became the top product of Indonesian trade, particularly in China. According to Makassan history, they turned their attention to the nearby northern Australian coastline, where trepang was most abundant.
Relations between coastal Aboriginal clans and the Makassans were mostly amicable and based on the mutual benefits of trade rather than land disputes. Each wet season, large amounts of these marine resources were collected and transported by wooden sailing ships called ‘perahu’ from our northern coastline to Makassar, where they were traded on to the northern hemisphere. In return for their help, Aboriginal people received useful products like steel knives and axes, rice, and tobacco. Today, our Aboriginal languages have many shared words from the dialects of Sulawesi, further highlighting the Makassan Legacy.”
THE YOLNGU PERSPECTIVE: WORDS FROM GOYMA GONDARRA
Goyma, a descendant of both Makassan and Yolngu heritage, shares his personal connection to this history:
“It is very important to our Yolngu Gurutu (family). My great-grandfather’s father, who was a full Makassan man, came to Australia during the trepang era and married a Yolngu woman, my great-great-grandmother. The expedition voyage offers a rare glimpse into the region’s deep cultural ties, natural beauty, and biodiversity. I can’t wait to share the fascinating history of my Yolŋu people’s interactions with the Makassan traders who visited our shores centuries ago. Today in northeast Arnhem Land, there are over 400 shared words, mainly nouns and names, which are part of the Makassan Legacy.”
Get curious with Coral Expeditions, as we explore the historical interactions between the Makassan traders from Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the Yolngu communities in Northern Australia. This unique voyage offers an opportunity to delve into the deep cultural ties, natural beauty, and biodiversity of the region, weaving together cultural heritage, spiritual connections to the land, and the lasting impact of these historical exchanges before European arrival in Australia. Join us to uncover the Makassan Legacy and its enduring influence on the region.
JOIN THE VOYAGE TO THE MAKASSANS
Interview with Ian Morris – The Spirit Of Coral Expeditions
The spirit of Coral Expeditions lives through expedition team members like Ian Morris. Ian is a biologist, author and conservationist who is one of Australia’s most acclaimed naturalists. With a long history of working with the traditional owners of the Kimberley and Arnhem Land, Ian has an abiding love for the Top End. He also has a deep interest in the cultures and wildlife of Sulawesi and the Spice Islands. Ian has been part of Coral Expeditions for more than 15 years. Through these years, his intellectual curiosity and excitement at taking our guests to his favourite places continue unabated.
