Amurdak facts for kids
The Amurdak people, also known as Amarak or Ngamarak, are an Indigenous Australian group. They originally lived on the Cobourg Peninsula in Australia's Northern Territory.
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Amurdak Language
The language of the Amarak people, called Amurdak, is now almost gone. The last known person who spoke it was Charlie Mungulda. This language was also known as Wardadjbak. It belongs to the Iwaidja language family. The Amurdak language had two different ways of speaking, called dialects: Urrik and Didjurra.
Amurdak Traditional Lands
The Amurdak people's traditional lands covered about 900 square miles (2,331 square kilometers). These lands were located along the eastern coast of Van Diemen Gulf. Their northern border was past Murgenella Creek and near Cooper Creek. Their southern border was close to the East Alligator River.
Amurdak Creation Story
Many creation stories from the Cobourg Peninsula describe the beginning of the world. One story tells how the Amurdak people (also called Umoriu) came from a special being named Imberombera. She placed children at a spot near Cooper Creek called Mamul. One of these children was named Kominuuru. When she left, she told them to speak Amurdak and to eat an edible bulb called murarowa.
Other Names for Amurdak
The Amurdak people have been known by several other names over time:
- Amarag, Amuruk, Amurag, Amurrak
- Ngamurak, Ngamurag, Nga:mu:rak
- Umoriu
- Monobar (?)
- A'moordiyu
- Amardak
- Amurdag
- Amurtak
- Amuruk
- Mamurug
- Namurug
- Umoreo
- Umorrdak
- Wardadjbak
- Woraidbug
- Wureidbug
See also
In Spanish: Amarak para niños
