Iningai facts for kids
The Iningai (also called Yiningayi) were a group of Aboriginal people who lived in the area we now call the Longreach Region in Queensland, Australia. They were one of the many different Aboriginal groups with their own unique culture and traditions.
Where the Iningai Lived
The Iningai people lived in a large area of land in central Queensland. This land was west of the Great Dividing Range, a long chain of mountains. Their territory stretched all the way to places like Forsyth Range, Maneroo Creek, and Longreach.
A famous researcher named Norman Tindale estimated their land covered about 19,500 square miles. To give you an idea, that's a very big area! Their southern border was near the Alice River and a place called Mexico. In the north, their land reached Muttaburra, Cornish Creek, Tower Hill, Bowen Downs, and North Oakvale. They also lived in the area around Aramac.
The town of Muttaburra actually gets its name from one of the Iningai family groups.
How the Iningai Lived Together
The Iningai people were made up of several smaller groups, often called 'bands' or 'hordes'. These groups were like extended families or clans who lived and traveled together. We still know the names of some of these important groups:
- Muttaburra
- Tateburra (This group lived north of Cornish Creek.)
- Terreburra (This group lived near the Alice River.)
Other Names for the Iningai
Over time, the Iningai people and their groups were known by several different names. These names often came from how different people heard or wrote them down. Some of these names include:
- Muttaburra
- Mutabura
- Moothaburra
- Mootaburra
- Tateburra
- Terreburra
- Kana
