Battle of Windjina Gorge (Australian Aboriginal)

This battle was part of a two year war of resistance led by Australian Aboriginal leader Jandamarra of the Bunuba people. Jandamarra as a youth had gotten in trouble with authorities for stealing sheep and was forced for a time to work for colonial Constable Richardson as a tracker against other Aboriginal peoples. When the police force attacked his own Bunuba people, he dramatically defected, killing Constable Richardson and freeing sixteen Aboriginal captives including some of his own blood relatives. Some of the Bunuba people told Jandamarra he obligated to them and they formed an armed gang. Jandamarra led the armed uprising which they hoped would extend to other Aboriginal tribal groups besides the Bunuba. On this day in 1894 they fought the a battle against police in Windjina Gorge, with Jandamarra's force being about 50 people by this time including multiple women. After an 8 hour stand off with the heavily armed Kimberley police, Jandamarra escaped through a series of caves and tunnels. He would evade police capture for the next two years, carrying out at least two successful raids on the Lillimooloora police station, shocking the white settlers and humiliating the police. While his efforts led to vicious reprisals against the Bunuba people, he is remembered as a hero and his actions effectively slowed the progress of pastoral expansion for over three years.