Dhuwal facts for kids

The Dhuwal are an Aboriginal Australian people. They live in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Dhuwal Language

The Dhuwal people speak the Dhuwal language. It is part of the Yolŋu-Matha group of languages. This group belongs to the larger Pama-Nyungan language family.

Traditional Lands of the Dhuwal

In 1974, a researcher named Norman Tindale described the Dhuwal people. He said they were one of two main groups of clans, the other being the Dhuwala. Both groups lived mostly along the coast facing the Arafura Sea.

Their traditional lands were in eastern Arnhem Land. This area stretched from Castlereagh Bay to the Buckingham River and the Koolatong River. It also reached near Port Bradshaw. Together with the Dhuwala, their land covered about 14,000 square kilometers (5,400 square miles).

In 1927, a missionary named J. C. Jennison wrote down many words. He heard these words from Aboriginal people on Elcho Island. Later, experts studied this list of words. They found that the words came from the Dhuwal language. This suggests that Dhuwal people also lived on Elcho Island.

History of Contact

The first European person to meet the Dhuwal people was Matthew Flinders. This happened at Caledon Bay. The Dhuwal people there were called Balamumu, meaning 'sea folk' or 'coastal people'. There were some conflicts during this first meeting. A short list of words from their language was also written down.

How Dhuwal Society is Organized

Dhuwal society is organized into eight different groups called clans. All of these clans belong to the Dua moiety. A moiety is like one half of a larger social system.

Here are the eight clans:

• 1. Tjambarupingu
• 2. Leiagawumir
• 3. Leiagalawumir (also known as Leyagalawumirr, Liaalaomir, Laigalawumiri, Laigulawulmiree)
• 4. Datiwui (also known as Datiwuy)
• 5. Marangu (also known as Marrangu, Marrakuli, Merango)
• 6. Marakulu (also known as Marrakulu, Maragulu)
• 7. Djapu
• 8. Dapuingu

Other Names for the Dhuwal

The Dhuwal people are sometimes known by other names:

• Balamumu (This name was used by people to the south for coastal tribes near Caledon Bay. It means 'sea folk' or 'coastal people'.)
• Barlamomo
• Barlamumu
• Malag (This name comes from the word mala, which means 'sea'.)
• Marlark
• Arrawiya
• Banjarrpuma
• Bilamandji
• Dhurili (This name was mainly used for clans to the south.)
• Durilji