Maia people facts for kids
The Maia were an Aboriginal Australian group. They lived in Western Australia. Their traditional lands were along the coast, facing the Indian Ocean.
Contents
The Maia People
The Maia were an important Aboriginal group. They lived in Western Australia. Their culture was deeply connected to their land.
Their Language
The Maia people spoke a language. It was similar to the Yingkarta language.
Where the Maia Lived
The Maia lived on a large area of land. It was about 4,700 square miles. Their country was mostly a strip along the coast. This area faced the Indian Ocean. They also lived inland. This included places like Boolathanna, Mooka, and Mardathuna. Their lands reached the Kennedy Range. They also lived near the coastal salt lakes close to Carnarvon. Their southern border was near the Gascoyne River and Lake Macleod.
What Happened to the Maia?
It is thought that the Maia people were no longer present by 1910. New diseases affected their area. These diseases spread among people living on the coast. This happened after pearling stations were set up. These stations were in places like Shark Bay and Cossack.
Later, some people were forced to work on pearling boats. Others were made to work for landowners. This broke up the Maia communities. It caused their population to greatly decrease. Their family groups were separated.
Other Names for the Maia
- Majanna
- Miah
A Few Maia Words
- baba (breasts, rain, or water)
- doodoota (wild dog)
- mamma (father)
- manghana (tame dog)
- marawa (white person)
- ngangerreta (mother)
- yamba (baby)
