Latji Latji facts for kids

The Latjilatji people, sometimes called Latji Latji or Latje Latje, are an Indigenous Australian group from Victoria, Australia. They have a rich history and culture connected to their traditional lands along the Murray River.

What's in a Name?

The name Latjilatji comes from their language. It's a repeated form of the word latja, which means "no."

The Latjilatji Language

The Latjilatji language is part of the Western Central Murray language group. It belongs to the larger Pama Nyungan language family. This language is closely related to the Matimati and Wadiwadi languages.

In 1887, a list of Latjilatji words was put together by Edward Micklethwaite Curr. He learned these words from people he met in a place called Kulkyne. Sadly, the Latjilatji language is now in great danger of disappearing. In 2004, only about 10 people were recorded as speaking it.

Latjilatji Traditional Lands

The Latjilatji people's traditional lands covered a large area, about 9,000 square kilometres (3,500 square miles). Their country stretched from Chalka Creek to Mildura, located on the southern side of the Murray River. It also went about 80 kilometres (50 miles) south from the river.

Their lands included the area around Kulkyne. They also reached south towards Murrayville and Pine Plains.

Social Life and Family Groups

The Latjilatji people were organized into two main family groups, called moieties. These groups were known as the Kailpara and Makwara. The Kailpara group was linked to the emu, while the Makwara group was connected to the eagle-hawk. Children belonged to their mother's family group.

A Glimpse into History

Early explorer Edward Eyre wrote about the Latjilatji people in 1845. He called them Boraipar and wrote down some words from their language.

Sadly, the Latjilatji people, like many other groups along the Murray River, suffered greatly from smallpox. This disease spread after they first met with European settlers. Peter Beveridge, who wrote about his experiences in the 1850s, described the impact of smallpox.

He noted that many older people in these tribes showed clear signs of having had smallpox. They said the disease "came with the waters," meaning it followed the rivers during flood season. It caused many deaths, leaving the land almost empty of people.

There was a man named John Mack, whose death in 1918 was reported as the "last blackfellow" of the "Murray River tribes." He was said to be one of the original people from Mildura, which is on Latjilatji lands. However, it's not fully clear which specific tribe he belonged to.

Other Names for Latjilatji

Over time, the Latjilatji people have been known by several different names:

• Baluk-mernen (meaning "people of the sandhills"), a name used by the Wotjobaluk people.
• Banju-bunan
• Boraipar
• Laitche
• Laitchi-Laitehi
• Latjoo-Latjoo
• Latyu-latyu, Latyoo-Latyoo, Litchoo-Litchoo, Laitci-laitci, Laci-Laci, Laitu-Laitu, Laitu
• Leitchi-Leitchi
• Litchy-Litchy
• Lutchye-Lutchye
• Sitchy Sitchy (this was a mistake in reading)
• Walkandwani (a name used by tribes to their west)
• Wortongi (or Woortongi), meaning "man"

Some Latjilatji Words

• manul: This word refers to a type of bony fish. It is also the name of a totem.