Gurindji people facts for kids
The Gurindji are an Aboriginal Australian people who live in northern Australia. Their traditional lands are about 460 kilometers southwest of Katherine in the Northern Territory's Victoria River area.
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Language and Culture
The Gurindji language is part of the Ngumbin-Yapa group of Pama-Nyungan languages. It uses many words borrowed from other languages.
Gurindji Kriol is a mixed language. People mostly speak it in Kalkaringi and Daguragu, along with Gurindji and English.
The Gurindji people share many things in their language and culture with the nearby Warlpiri people. They also see themselves as "one mob" with the Malngin, Bilinara, Mudburra, and Ngarinyman peoples. They call this group Ngumpit, meaning they share most of their languages and culture.
Among the Ngumpit, there are four special skin names for boys, like Janama and Japarta. There are also four for girls, such as Nangala and Nawurla. Children get these names when they are born and keep them for life. These names help decide how everyone in the community relates to each other.
The Jurntakal (snake) is a very important Dreaming story for the Gurindji. This and other ancestor spirits help keep their traditional lands alive and strong.
Art is a main activity for the Gurindji. The Karungkarni Art and Cultural Centre is a busy place for artists.
Gurindji Stories and History
A young Japanese scholar named Hokari Minoru (1971-2004) helped study the Gurindji people. He listened closely to their stories about how white settlers came to their land. The Gurindji people often felt that their stories, once told to outsiders, were then hidden away in big Australian cities. So, Hokari always made sure they checked his writings to ensure their stories were told correctly. Jimmy Mangayarri was a main person who shared stories with him.
Land Rights and the Gurindji Strike
The Gurindji people are famous for the Gurindji Strike, also known as the Wave Hill walk-off. This important event started in 1966. It was led by Vincent Lingiari and was a protest against how station managers treated Aboriginal workers.
This strike became the first big win for the Indigenous land rights movement in Australia. In 1975, a small part of their traditional lands (about 3,236 square kilometers) was given back to them. This area became known as "Daguragu Station." The Australian Prime Minister at the time, Gough Whitlam, handed over this land. This event helped open the way for more land rights victories across Australia.
In 1984, after a special hearing, the Gurindji were given full ownership (called inalienable freehold title) of almost all the land Whitlam had given back. This was about 3,250 square kilometers of their tribal land. It took until May 1986 for the Hawke government to finally give the Gurindji the official freehold title deeds. However, much of the larger Wave Hill pastoral station (about 13,500 square kilometers) is still not owned by Indigenous people.
Communities and Daily Life
There are two main Gurindji communities: Kalkarindji and Daguragu. Kalkarindji was set up by the Northern Territory Government. It is a town of 260 hectares located on the Buntine Highway. Daguragu is a community built on land given back under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976.
Kalkarindji became an "open town" in 1976. This means people do not need special permission to live there or visit.
Daguragu is about 8 kilometers north of Kalkarindji, connected by a sealed road. To visit Daguragu, you need permission from the traditional owners, usually through the Central Land Council. Daguragu was the first cattle station to be owned and run by an Aboriginal community, the Murramulla Gurindji Company, after the Wave Hill walk-off.
Over the years, the communities have faced challenges. A bakery was destroyed by floods in 2001. In 2007, the Northern Territory National Emergency Response (also called "The Intervention") brought new controls and took over some land. Equipment and jobs were lost during a government change in 2008.
Local services for both communities were provided by the Daguragu Community Government Council until 2008. Then, the Victoria Daly Shire took over, which is now called the Victoria Daly Region. This council has an office in Kalkarindji for the Kalkarindji/Daguragu area. The council also helps several outstations where traditional owners from the Gurindji language group live. Some people in Daguragu and Kalkarindji also belong to other language groups, like the Warlpiri.
In 2014, after a successful native title claim over Kalkarindji, the Gurindji Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) was formed. This group is owned by about 700 people, mostly of Gurindji, Mudburra, and Warlpiri heritage. The GAC can make agreements about the land. It also runs community businesses, like the Kalkarindji Store and Caravan Park.
In 2016, a news article described Daguragu as struggling. It has a creche (a place for young children) and a successful Indigenous ranger program. However, most of the activity happens in Kalkarindji, where there is a school, a social club, and other services. The traditional owner groups of the two communities do not always have an easy relationship.
Population
At the 2016 Australian census, the total number of people living in Daguragu and Kalkarindji was 575. Out of these, 517 people (which is 90.4%) said they were "Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people."
Surrounding Area
The area around Kalkarindji/Daguragu is called Gurindji, Northern Territory. It covers a large space of 32,372 square kilometers.
Freedom Day Celebration
Every year on August 23, a big celebration called Freedom Day takes place in Kalkarindji. This day marks the anniversary of the Gurindji Strike and walk-off. People come from all over Australia to celebrate and re-enact the walk-off.
Other Names for Gurindji
Here are some other names that have been used for the Gurindji people:
- Garundji
- Guirindji, Gurindji
- Koorangie
- Korindji
Well-Known Gurindji People
See also
