Kartudjara facts for kids
The Kartudjara are an Aboriginal Australian people. They live in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Kartudjara Traditional Lands
The Kartudjara people lived on a large area of land. Their traditional lands covered about 26,000 square kilometres (10,000 square miles). This area stretched from Madaleri, which is north of Kumpupintil Lake, near Well 22 on the Canning Stock Route. It went southwest towards Pulpuruma, near Well 12.
Their western border was on the south side of the Rudall River (also called Karlamilyi). It reached as far as the Robertson Range. Their land also included the eastern parts of the Jigalong and Savory Creeks. This land was known for its many parallel sand dunes.
Kartudjara History
Around the 1890s, the Kartudjara people moved into new areas. They caused the Niabali people to move about 60 kilometres (37 miles) away. The Niabali moved from Savory Creek to Balfour Downs. After this, the Kartudjara used the water at the Rudall River. This river later became their northern border.
Their neighbours were the Wanman and Nyangumarta peoples. These groups lived beyond the mulga trees, in the spinifex plains.
In more recent times, the Kartudjara became one of the main groups that formed the Martu. The word "Martu" means 'northerners'. But originally, it was used for people who had completed special initiation ceremonies. These ceremonies made them full members of their tribe.
After World War II, some Kartudjara people were seen as 'lawmen' by the coastal groups to their west. This was because the Kartudjara, like other desert tribes, had kept their traditional ceremonies and knowledge. Many of these traditions had been lost by the tribes living along the Indian Ocean coast.
Other Names for Kartudjara
- Katudjara
- Katatjara
- Kardudjara
- Gadudjara
- Walmala
- Orailku
- Ngadari (This name means 'strangers'.)
