Yindjilandji

The Yindjilandji are an indigenous Australian people of the Northern Territory.

Language

The Yindjilandji language is usually grouped as one of the Ngarna languages, and considered a southern variety, and either a dialect of Wagawa if not an independent language.[1]

Country

In Norman Tindale's guesstimate, the Yindjilandji ranged over roughly 8,200 square miles (21,000 km^2) of tribal land. They were a Barkly Tableland people, occupying the area about Buchanan Creek and Ranken River, with a western limits toward Dalmore and Alroy Downs. Eastwards their terrain extended over the border with Queensland close to the headwaters of the Gregory River and Lawn Hill Creek.[2]

Social organisation

The Yindjilandji are organised into four skin groups (called Galharra):

• Banaga
• Burungu
• Balyirri
• Garimarra

A Banaga man must marry a Burungu woman and all their children are Balyirri. A Burungu man marries a Banaga woman and their children are Garimarra.

On the other side, Garimarra men must marry Balyirri women and their children are Burungu. Balyirri men marry Garimarra women and their children become Banaga.[3]

Alternative names

• Bularnu
• Dhidhanu[4]
• Inchalachee, Inchalanchee
• Indjilandji, Indjilindji
• Indjurandji
• Indkilindji (? typo)
• Injilinji
• Intjilatja (Alyawarre exonym)

Source: Tindale 1974, p. 226

Notes

Citations

1. Dixon 2002, p. xxxix.
2. Tindale 1974, p. 226.
3. "Galharra: Why we are all Family – Juluwarlu Aboriginal Corporation". Retrieved 11 June 2024.
4. Ethnologue.

Sources

• Dixon, R. M. W. (2002). Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-47378-1.
• Sharp, Lauriston (December 1935). "Semi-Moieties in North-Western Queensland". Oceania. 6 (2): 158–174. doi:10.1002/j.1834-4461.1935.tb00178.x. JSTOR 40327545.
• Sharp, Lauriston (March 1939a). "Tribes and Totemism in North-East Australia". Oceania. 9 (3): 254–275. doi:10.1002/j.1834-4461.1939.tb00232.x. JSTOR 40327744.
• Sharp, Lauriston (June 1939b). "Tribes and Totemism in North-East Australia (Continued)". Oceania. 9 (4): 439–461. doi:10.1002/j.1834-4461.1939.tb00248.x. JSTOR 40327762.
• Tindale, Norman Barnett (1974). "Indjilandji (NT)". Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names. Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-708-10741-6.
• Yallop, C. L. (1969). "The Aljawara and Their Territory". Oceania. 39 (3): 187–197. doi:10.1002/j.1834-4461.1969.tb01005.x. JSTOR 40329775.
• "Yindjilandji". Ethnologue. SIL International.