Kwiambal facts for kids
The Kwiambal are an Aboriginal Australian people from New South Wales, Australia. They are an important part of Australia's rich history and culture.
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Who are the Kwiambal people?
The name Kwiambal comes from their own language. The first part, quie or koi, means 'no'. The second part, bal, is a special ending that means a group of people or a tribe. So, Kwiambal means "the people who say 'no'".
Their traditional lands were in New South Wales. These lands were mainly around the lower Severn River. They also lived in areas like Ashford and Fraser's Creek. Their territory covered about 800 square miles (2,072 square kilometers). The Jukambal people lived to their south.
Were the Kwiambal a separate tribe?
In 1855, a Presbyterian missionary named William Ridley traveled through this region. He wrote about the Aboriginal people he met. Near Warialda, he found people who spoke Kamilaroi and Uolaroi languages.
A day's journey north of Warialda, Ridley met people he called "Yukumba." He also noted that on the Macintyre River, people spoke Pikumbul.
Later, a researcher named Norman Tindale thought that the "Yukumba" people Ridley met were likely the Kwiambal. Some people wondered if the Kwiambal were just a small group (a 'horde') of the Jukambal people. However, there were two main reasons why they were considered a separate tribe:
- Their traditional land was quite large for just a small family group.
- Their name, "Kwiambal," ends with '-bal', which usually means a distinct tribal group.
These reasons suggest that the Kwiambal were their own unique tribal group.
Other Names for the Kwiambal
Over time, the Kwiambal people were sometimes known by other names. These names include:
- Koi
- Kweembul
- Queenbulla
- Quieumble
Kwiambal Words We Know
We know a few words from the Kwiambal language. Here are some examples:
- goone (whiteman)
- kuppenea (mother)
- maroni (kangaroo)
- menni (tame dog)
- parpinga (father)
