Dalabon people facts for kids
The Dalabon or Dangbon are an Aboriginal Australian people. They live in the Northern Territory of Australia.
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What's in a Name?
The people we call Dalabon today didn't always have a group name for themselves. The name "Dalabon" actually comes from the language they speak.
Their Language
The Dalabon language is part of a larger group called the Gunwinyguan language family. It's spoken in Arnhem Land. Sadly, the Dalabon language is in danger of disappearing. It has a special feature: many words describe feelings as actions or qualities (like "happy-doing" or "sad-feeling"). But it has fewer simple names for emotions.
Their Traditional Land
Long ago, the Dalabon people lived on a large area of land. It was about 2,000 square miles (5,200 square kilometers). This land was in southwestern Arnhem Land. Their main area was around the Phelp, Rose, and Hart rivers.
The Dalabon lived near several other Aboriginal groups. These included the Jawoyn to their southwest. To their west and northwest were people who spoke Kune and Mayali languages. The Ngalakgan lived to their south. The Rembarrnga were to their east.
How They Lived
The Dalabon were hunter-gatherers. This means they moved around to find food. They lived in an area with both open grasslands (savannah) and forests. This gave them many different food sources.
Their year had three main seasons:
- A wet season from December to April.
- A cool, dry season from May to July.
- A warming season from August to November, before the rains returned.
How Their Society Was Organized
Dalabon society had a special way of organizing people into eight groups. These groups helped decide many things, like who could marry whom. They also played a role in important ceremonies.
Two major ceremonies were called Gunabibi and Yabuduruwa. The Dalabon and nearby groups held these ceremonies every other year.
Their Stories and Beliefs
According to Dalabon stories about the world's beginning, men once lived underwater. They had stumps instead of legs. The crocodile was the only one who knew the secret of fire.
Then, the kingfisher stole a burning stick from the crocodile. The kingfisher set the land on fire. Men got burned, which taught them how to cook food. It also gave them the legs they have today!
Two pairs of very old, powerful ancestors are important in Dalabon beliefs. They are the Yirritja men Bulanj and Kodjok, and the Duwa women Kalidjan and Kamanj. Together, they are called the Nakoorkko. These ancestors traveled the land. They created the laws and customs that guide Dalabon life. These laws are also part of the natural landscape.
Dalabon People Today
Today, many Dalabon people live in communities east of Katherine. These communities include Wugularr (which used to be called Beswick), Barunga (formerly Bamyili), Bulman, and Weemol.
Studies of the Dalabon
Kenneth Maddock was one of the first people to study the Dalabon in detail.
Other Names for Dalabon
The Dalabon people have also been known by other names, including:
- Buan, Bu:wan, Boun
- Ngalkbon
The "Dangbon" Confusion
An anthropologist named Norman Tindale once thought there was a separate group called the "Dangbon." He believed they were different from the Dalabon. He listed some other names for this group, like Gundangbon and Dangbun. However, today, experts believe that "Dangbon" is just another name for the Dalabon people.
A Special Word
A linguist named Nicholas Evans studied the Dalabon language. He noted a special word root, √men. This root means something like "social conscience" or "awareness." It can be used in words like men-djabalarrk, which means "obedient." This word can even describe animals, like a dog.
