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Tarenorerer

April 16, 2015

Tarenorerer, also known as ‘Walyer’ was a Tasmanian resistance leader in the early 18th century.

In her teens Tarenorerer was abducted by Aborigines who sold her to European sealers on the Bass Strait Islands where she lived for several years. During this time she became proficient in speaking English, and also learned how to use firearms.

In 1828 Tarenorerer escaped and returned to northern Tasmania, where she assembled warbands of both men and women from disenfranchised Aboriginal groups. She trained her forces to use muskets and how to attack enemies when they were vulnerable during reloading.

Her forces launched raids on European settlers (and possibly rival Aboriginal groups as well), making a point of killing their livestock. She was known for directing attacks from high ground, from which she would yell abuse at settlers and dare them to attack.

The raids lasted for two years until Tarenorerer’s capture in 1830. She attempted escape but failed and was kept in isolation for fear she would incite revolt. She died in captivity from influenza on 5th June,1831.

[Read more about Tarenorerer]

Tags: Tarenorerer, Walyer, female soldiers, female resistance fighters, women in war, history, Tasmanian history, Tasmanian Aborigines, colonialism
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