Limilngan facts for kids

The Limilngan people, also known as Minitja or Buneidja, are an Aboriginal Australian group from the Northern Territory in Australia. Early researchers like Norman Tindale also called them Puneitja.

Language of the Limilngan People

The Limilngan people spoke a language called Limilngan. Sadly, this language is now extinct, meaning no one speaks it anymore. People sometimes called the language and its speakers Limil or Minitjja. The name Buneidja is also used for the same language and people.

Where the Limilngan Lived

The Limilngan people lived in an area east of Darwin in the Northern Territory. Their land was around the lower Mary River, stretching from Buluwurrk (which is Mount Bundey) all the way to the coast near Gunanyjarr (which is Point Stuart).

They shared borders with other Aboriginal groups. To their northeast were the Ngardok people, and to their east were the Ngomburr. The Uwinymil lived to their south, and the Warray were to their southwest. To their northwest lived the Djerimanga and Wuna people.

According to researcher Norman Tindale, the Limilngan's traditional lands covered about 900 square miles (2,330 square kilometers). This area was on the western side of the South Alligator River, going about 50 miles inland and along Coirwong Creek.

Today, much of this land is part of the famous Kakadu National Park. In March 2022, the Limilngan people and other groups were granted native title over this land. This means their traditional rights and interests in the land are legally recognized.

A Glimpse into Limilngan History

After the city of Darwin was settled in 1869, life changed dramatically for the Aboriginal people living in the surrounding areas, including the Limilngan. This region was often called "buffalo country."

The arrival of European settlers brought many challenges. By 1920, the Limilngan population had dropped by about 95%. This huge decline was mostly due to diseases that the Aboriginal people had not been exposed to before. Sadly, violence and conflicts also played a part in these difficult times.

Dreamtime Stories of Creation

The Limilngan people, like many Aboriginal groups, have rich Dreamtime legends that explain how the world and their culture came to be.

One important story tells of a woman named Imberombera and a man named Wuraka. They are seen as foundational figures who shaped the land and its people. Imberombera and Wuraka arrived on the mainland separately by walking across the sea. Imberombera landed at Malay Bay. Both of them originally spoke the Iwaidja language.

Imberombera continued her journey, creating spirit children at different places. She also left important plants like yams, Cyprus bulbs, or bamboo. As she traveled, she chanted the language that would be spoken in each area. In the land that became Puneitja (Limilngan) country, she chanted words that indicated the language for that place.

Another creation story, told by Felix Holmes, one of the last speakers of the Limilngan language, describes a journey from east to west. An old creator being named Wanyjuwanyjuwa traveled with three mermaid sisters, who might have been his daughters: Baligijarr, Manabirrina, and Manbarra. They traveled through the country between Oenpelli (now Gunbalanya) and Darwin. In this story, Wanyjuwanyjuwa changes into a shooting star. He then traps people in a cave at a place called Balkgamirni to cook them.

Other Names for the Limilngan

Over time, the Limilngan people and their language have been known by several different names and spellings. Researcher Norman Tindale recorded these variations:

• Baneidja
• Bani:dja
• Banidja
• Buneidja
• Minnitji
• Peneitja
• Punaka
• Punuurlu

A Few Limilngan Words

Here are some words from the Limilngan language:

• bambarl = nulla-nulla (a type of wooden club)
• dimarrkginyan = dingo
• gagi = father
• giji = mother (used when speaking to your mother)
• jilalarr = magpie
• ngilyi = dog