The world’s largest sand island is now officially known by its traditional name, K’gari, the government of the Australian state of Queensland announced Wednesday.
The name change formally recognizes the connection of the indigenous Butchulla people to the UNESCO World Heritage site on Australia’s east coast.
“In our creation stories, our stories handed down by generations, it has always been K’gari and always will be,” Gayle Minniecon, chairperson of Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, said in a press release.
It’s what we call home,” Joyce Bonner, Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation Language and Cultural coordinator, said in a statement ahead of the reinstatement.
K’gari means “paradise” in the Butchulla language and is pronounced “GUR-rie” or “Gurri,” according to the Queensland government.
Persons:
CNN —, ” Gayle Minniecon, “, ” Joyce Bonner, GUR, rie ”, Reuben Nutt, K’gari, ”, Patricia O’Callaghan
Organizations:
CNN, Queensland, UNESCO, Aboriginal Australians, Aboriginal Corporation, Butchulla, Tourism, “
Locations:
“, Queensland, Fraser