Djiringanj facts for kids

The Djiringanj (pronounced Jir-in-ganj), also spelled Dyirringañ, are an Aboriginal Australian people. They come from the southern coast of New South Wales in Australia. They are part of a larger group called the Yuin people. All Yuin people speak or used to speak different forms (called dialects) of the Yuin–Kuric language family.

Djiringanj Language

The language spoken by the Djiringanj people is called Djiringanj language. A language expert named Robert M. W. Dixon said that the Djiringanj language is different from the Thaua and Dhurga languages. However, all these languages belong to the same larger group, the Yuin–Kuric language family. This means they are related, like different types of English spoken around the world.

Traditional Lands

The Djiringanj people's traditional lands covered a large area. It was about 1,200 square miles (3,100 square kilometers). This land stretched south along the coast from Cape Dromedary past Bega. Inland, their country reached up to the edge of the Great Dividing Range, east of Nimmitabel.

They lived between other Aboriginal groups. The Walbanga people were to their north. The Thaua people were to their south. To their west, their lands met those of the Ngarigo people.

Fishing at Wallaga Lake

In early 2020, something special happened for the Djiringanj men from the Wallaga Lake area near Bermagui. For the first time in many years, they were able to fish with nets on Wallaga Lake in their traditional way.

They received a special cultural fishing permit. This permit allows them to fish once a week. They use a special boat and a net made by hand, just like their ancestors did. Young men from the community catch fish like flathead, bream, and mullet. They then give their catch to the local elders.

This practice helps people in the community. It provides fresh, healthy food for those who might not have enough. It also helps with health problems like heart disease and diabetes. These issues can be made worse by not having good nutrition.

Other Names for Djiringanj

The Djiringanj people have also been known by other names, including:

• Dyirringan
• Jeringin
• Yuin. (This term was used by Alfred William Howitt to refer to both the Yuin and Thaua people together.)