Burarra people facts for kids

The Burarra people, also known as the Gidjingali, are an Aboriginal Australian group. They live in the heart of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, especially around Maningrida. Sometimes, people have wondered if the Burarra and Gidjingali are the same group or different ones. For this encyclopedia, they are listed separately, but much of their history and culture is similar.

A researcher named Norman Tindale said there are five main groups within the Burarra people: the Anbara (or Anbarra), Marawuraba, Madia, Maringa, and Gunadba. The Burarra people live near other groups like the Dangbon/Dalabon, Nakara, and Yolngu peoples.

What's in a Name?

The name Burarra simply means 'those people'. Norman Tindale thought the Gidjingali were an eastern part of the Burarra, speaking a very similar language. However, another researcher, Les Hiatt, believed in 1965 that they were a completely separate group. Today, the names Burarra and Gidjingali are often used to mean the same people. Tindale also thought that 'Burarra' was a name given to them by outsiders, and their 'real' name might have been Ngapanga.

Their Language

The Burarra language is spoken by about 2,000 people. Many of these speakers also know other languages. It's a special type of language from the Arnhem Land region, part of the Maningrida family of languages. Unlike many Australian languages, Burarra uses prefixes (small parts added to the beginning of words) to change their meaning.

Where They Live

The traditional land of the Burarra people covers about 520 square kilometers (200 square miles). This area is found on both sides of the Blyth River, stretching about 32 kilometers (20 miles) inland. Their land also goes east towards Cape Stewart. They live along the Arafura Sea and even have some islands as part of their territory.

Their neighbours to the north, the Yan-nhaŋu people from the Crocodile Islands, speak a very different language. However, the Burarra and Yan-nhaŋu people have strong cultural connections and traditions. The Burarra land also borders the areas of the Dangbon (or Dalabon), Nakara, and Yolngu peoples.

How Their Society Works

The Burarra people live near Yolngu groups like the Djinang, but their ways of life, especially their marriage customs, are quite different. For example, Burarra men usually have fewer wives than Yolngu men. Also, the Burarra have a different system for classifying family members compared to the Yolngu. The rules for choosing a husband or wife are also not the same.

Groups and Moieties

According to Tindale, the Burarra people are made up of five main subgroups:

• Anbara: They live on the western side of the Blyth River mouth.
• Marawuraba: Their land is along the coast to the east of the Blyth River.
• Madia: This group is found in the Cape Stewart area.
• Maringa
• Gunadba (also called Gunaidbe)

Each of these five groups is divided into two main halves, called moieties. These halves are known as Yirritja and Dua. This system helps organize their society and traditions.

Other Names for Burarra

You might see the Burarra people referred to by other names, such as:

• Barera
• Baurera
• Burada
• Burara
• Burera
• Gidjingali

Modern Times

Questacon, which is Australia's National Science and Technology Centre in Canberra, has created a special website about the Burarra people. It's called Burarra Gathering and teaches about their people, land, language, and traditional technologies.

A Burarra Word

Here's an example of a word from the Burarra language:

• gurakadj means 'shame' or 'fear'.

See also

• Australian Aboriginal culture#Examples of ceremonies for information about the ROM ceremony, which is practiced by the Anbarra people.