Badimaya facts for kids
The Badimaya people (also known as Badimia) are an Aboriginal Australian group from the Mid West area of Western Australia. They have a rich history and culture connected to their traditional lands.
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Badimaya Country and Land
The traditional lands of the Badimaya people cover a large area in Western Australia. This area is about 29,200 square kilometres (11,300 square miles).
Where is Badimaya Country?
Badimaya country includes towns like Cue, Nannine, and Mount Magnet in the north. It stretches south to Paynes Find and southwest to Yalgoo. The northwest part of their land is along the Sandford River.
Neighbouring Groups
The Badimaya lands share borders with other Aboriginal language groups. To the east are the Tjuparn and Wanmala people from the Western Desert language groups. The Noongar people are to the south-west, and the Watjarri people are to the north-west.
Badimaya Language
The Badimaya language is part of the Kartu branch of the larger Pama–Nyungan language family. Sadly, it is a critically endangered language, meaning very few people still speak it fluently. However, there is a strong movement within the Badimaya community to bring their language back to life. This language revival helps keep their culture and history strong.
Notable People
- Julie Dowling is a well-known artist from the Badimaya people.
Other Names for Badimaya People
The Badimaya people have been known by several different names and spellings over time. These names were recorded by Norman Tindale, a famous researcher of Aboriginal cultures.
- Badimala
- Badimara
- Barimaia, Bardimaia, Badimaia
- Bidungu
- Padimaia
- Parimaia
- Patimara
- Waadal
- Wardal
Conservation Parks in Badimaya Country
In February 2021, an exciting announcement was made about Badimaya country. The Government of Western Australia created five new conservation parks on their traditional lands. These parks cover a huge area of over 114,000 hectares (about 281,700 acres).
Joint Management
These new parks are special because they are jointly managed. This means the traditional owners (the Badimaya people) work together with the Parks and Wildlife Service. This service is part of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. This partnership helps protect the land and its important cultural sites.
Important Sites
The land included in these parks used to be parts of two large farms called Lakeside and Burnerbinmah. It also includes some Crown land at Kirkalocka and White Wells. These areas contain many important Aboriginal sites of significance, which are very special places for the Badimaya people. There are also other historic sites that tell stories of the past.
