Barababaraba facts for kids
The Barababaraba people (also spelled Barapabarapa) are an Indigenous Australian group. Their traditional lands covered parts of southern New South Wales and northern Victoria. They had strong connections with the Wemba Wemba people.
The Barababaraba people shared much of their land with their neighbors, the Wemba Wemba and Yorta Yorta peoples. This area includes places like Deniliquin, the Kow Swamp, and Perrricoota/Koondrook. Today, the Barababaraba are part of the North-West Nations Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Group. They do important work to protect cultural heritage and manage natural resources in their area.
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Barababaraba Language
The Barababaraba language was spoken by the Barababaraba people. An early study of its grammar was written by Robert Hamilton Mathews. He noted that at least one dialect of the language was spoken near Swan Hill on the Murray River.
Traditional Lands and Neighbors
The traditional territory of the Barababaraba people covered about 3,600 square miles (9,300 km²) across parts of New South Wales and Victoria. This land included southern rivers that flow into the Murrumbidgee River, from above Hay down to Kerang.
Their lands also included towns like Cohuna, Gunbower, Brassi, Conargo, and the area south of Carrathool. Deniliquin was also part of their country.
The Barababaraba people had many neighbors:
- To the northwest were the Wemba Wemba people.
- To the west was the land of the Wergaia people.
- To the east, the Yorta Yorta people's boundaries ran north and south.
- To the south were the Dja Dja Wurrung people.
How Barababaraba Society Was Organized
The Barababaraba people had a special way of organizing their society, called a moiety (kinship) system. This system helped decide who could marry whom and how family groups were connected. It was divided into two main parts, or phratries, and each phratry had two sections.
For example, a man from one section would marry a woman from a specific other section. Their children would then belong to a different section, which helped keep the community connected and followed important rules. This system was similar to the initiation ceremonies of the Wiradjuri people.
Traditional Lifestyle
The Barababaraba people lived along the Murray River. They were known for chewing wangul, which are bulrushes. They chewed the soft inner part (tuberous pith) for food. They also used the tough outer fibers to make strong strings. These strings were then used to create useful items like nets for fishing and bags for carrying things.
A Glimpse into History
In 2012, an interesting discovery was made in Barababaraba territory. A grinding stone, called a mortar, was found in the Koondrook Perricoota Forest near Barbers Creek. Scientists studied this mortar and believe it might have been used to grind gypsum. Gypsum is a mineral that some Aboriginal groups used in funeral ceremonies or as body paint for special dances called corroborees. This find helps us learn more about the Barababaraba people's past activities.
Other Names for the Barababaraba People
The Barababaraba people are also known by several other names, including:
- Barapa Barapa, Barapabarapa
- Birraba-birraba, Burreba-burreba
- Boorabirraba
- Booraboora
- Boort (a place name)
- Bureba, Burabura
- Burrabura-ba, Baraba-baraba, Barraba-barraba, Bareber Bareber
- Burrappa, Burrapper, Burapper, Barappu
- Karraba (this might be a mistake)
- Perrepa Perrepa
Some Barababaraba Words
Here are a few words from the Barababaraba language:
- bangga (a boy)
- barapa (no)
- dyelli-dyellic (yesterday)
- gillaty (today)
- kurregurk (a girl)
- lêurk (a woman)
- ngungni (yes)
- perbur (tomorrow)
- wutthu (a man)
