Kareldi facts for kids

The Kareldi is a name given to some Aboriginal Australian groups in Queensland. A researcher named Norman Tindale used this name.

There were two main groups called Kareldi: the Garandi (also known as Karandi) and the Gkuthaarn (also called Kutanda or Kuthant). These names came from their languages, the Garandi language and the Gkuthaarn language.

It's not fully clear if these groups were one big family or two separate ones. But it seems they spoke similar languages or dialects in the same area. The name "Kotanda" was sometimes used for the Kareldi people, and also for the Kalibamu people.

Traditional Lands of the Kareldi People

The Kareldi people lived on a large area of land. According to Norman Tindale, their land was about 3,885 square kilometers (1,500 square miles).

Their country stretched from the mouth of the Norman River westwards. It went from Normanton all the way to the Flinders River. Important places like Karumba and the Swinburne River were part of their traditional lands. Inland, their territory reached places like Milgarra, Maggieville, and Stirling.

An early police inspector, W.E. Armit, also described the land of the "Karrandee tribe" in 1886. He said it started at the River Bryce, went past the Norman River, and continued along the coast. It stretched inland to Magowra Station and Walker's Creek, covering about 5,180 square kilometers (2,000 square miles).

Impact of European Settlement on Traditional Lands

When European settlers arrived in the Gulf of Carpentaria area in the 1870s, they built the town of Normanton. At that time, about seven different Aboriginal groups lived in the region.

The arrival of settlers led to conflicts, sometimes called the Australian frontier wars. These conflicts made the traditional land boundaries unclear. By the 1920s, many Aboriginal people were moved from their homes. They were often sent to special Aboriginal reserves or missions.

Some Gkuthaarn and Kukatj people stayed near Normanton. They lived in camps on the south-western side of the town. Other groups, like the Kurtijar people, camped north of the Norman River.

Native Title Recognition for Gkuthaarn and Kukatj Peoples

On September 29, 2020, the Kukatj and Gkuthaarn peoples achieved an important victory. They won a native title determination over a huge area of land. This land is more than 16,000 square kilometers (6,178 square miles) west of the Norman River. It includes the town of Normanton and reaches the Leichhardt River.

This recognition means they are officially the traditional owners of this land. It took eight years for their claim to be approved. Now, these two groups have the right to fish, hunt, and practice their culture. They can also hold their cultural ceremonies on pastoral land.

Other Names for the Kareldi People

The Kareldi people were known by several different names, including:

• Karundi, Karunti, Kurandi, Karantee, Karrandi, Karrandee
• Gar-und-yih
• Kanin. (This word means 'scrub')
• Gooran. (This means 'scrub people')
• Kotanda. (This name was also sometimes used for the Kalibamu people)
• Kutanda.
• Goothanto.

Kareldi Languages and Words

It is not fully clear if the Gkuthaarn language (Kutanda) and the Garandi language (Karandi) were two separate languages or different ways of speaking the same language.

Some Words from the Karrandee Tribe

In 1886, W.E. Armit, a police inspector, wrote down some words from the "Karrandee tribe." Here are a few examples:

• irruag (tame dog)
• nyet (father)
• mooruk (mother)
• morbuy (whiteman)
• irruag (tame dog)
• nyet (father)
• mooruk (mother)
• morbuy (whiteman)

Indigenous Rangers Protecting Land and Culture

The Gkuthaarn Kukatj Indigenous Land & Sea Ranger group is a team of Indigenous rangers. It is made up of Kukatj and Gkuthaarn people.

These rangers work to protect the natural resources and cultural heritage of the southern Gulf of Carpentaria region. The group is managed by the Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (CLCAC).