Kugu Nganhcara facts for kids
The Kugu Nganhcara are an Australian group of peoples. They live in the middle western part of the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. Today, many Kugu Nganhcara people live in the towns of Aurukun and the Edward River settlement.
Their Language: Kugu Nganhcara
The Kugu Nganhcara language is a group of closely related languages. It's part of the larger Wik-language family. There are six main types, or "varieties," of Kugu Nganhcara. These include Kugu Uwanh, Kugu Ugbanh, Kugu Yi'anh, Kugu Mi'inh, Kugu Miminh, and Wik Iyanh.
The word 'kugu' means 'speech' in their language. The word that follows 'kugu' describes how people 'go' or move. These languages are very similar. They are often called "patrilects" because they are spoken by groups of people who trace their family lines through their fathers. These groups also have a tradition of marrying people from outside their own group.
Where They Live: Their Country
The traditional lands of the Kugu Nganhcara stretch across a specific area. Their northern border is around the Kendall River. Their southern border is near Moonkan Creek. South of Moonkan Creek live their neighbors, the Thaayorre people.
Different Kugu Nganhcara Groups
The Kugu Nganhcara people include several different groups. Each group has its own name and language variety. These groups are:
- Kugu Miminh
- Kugu-Mu'inh
- Kugu Uwanh
- Kugu Ugbanh
- Kugu-Mangk
- Kugu Yi'anh
- Wik-Iiyanh
- Kugu Mi'ing
- Wik Iyanh
