Jamindjung facts for kids
The Jamindjung (also spelled Djamindjung) are an Indigenous Australian people. They are the original inhabitants of a specific area in the Northern Territory of Australia. Indigenous Australians are the first people who lived on the Australian continent and nearby islands.
Jamindjung Language
The Jamindjung people speak the Jaminjung language. This language is part of the Yirram language family. It is also related to the language spoken by the Ngaliwurru people and, more distantly, to the Nungali language. The Jaminjung language is considered a "non Pama-Nyungan" language, which means it belongs to a different group than most other Indigenous Australian languages.
Traditional Country
The traditional land of the Jamindjung people is located in the Northern Territory. In 1936, a researcher named W. E. H. Stanner described their land as being between the north bank of the Victoria River and the south bank of the Fitzmaurice River. He estimated it stretched inland about 100 miles from the Timor Sea.
Later, another researcher, Norman Tindale, provided more detailed information. He estimated their tribal territory covered about 2,700 square miles (7,000 km2). This area included the upper and middle parts of the Fitzmaurice River, extending to the Vambarra mountain range and Umyxera Creek. Their southern border was near Timber Creek on the Victoria River. Important places within their traditional lands included Bradshaw and the Angalarri River.
Other Names for Jamindjung
The Jamindjung people have been known by several other names over time. These include:
- Djamunjun
- Djamundon
- Djamadjong
- Jaminjang, Jaminjung
- Kaminjung
- Tjamindjung, Tjaminjun
- Murinyuwen, Murinyuwan
