Malyangapa facts for kids

The Malyangaapa are an Indigenous Australian group of people. They traditionally lived in the far western parts of New South Wales, a state in Australia.

Who are the Malyangaapa People?

The Malyangaapa are one of many Indigenous Australian groups. They have a rich history and culture. Their traditional lands are located in the dry, western areas of New South Wales.

Their Traditional Language

The Malyangaapa people spoke a special language. It was a dialect of the Yarli language. Language is very important to Indigenous Australian cultures. It helps pass down stories, knowledge, and traditions.

Where the Malyangaapa Lived

The traditional country of the Malyangaapa people covered a large area. It was about 5,900 square miles (15,000 square kilometers). The center of their land was near a place called Milparinka. This area is around the head of Yancannie Creek.

Their land stretched out in different directions. To the east, it went beyond Mount Arrowsmith. The southern parts of their country were around Mutawintji and Sturt Meadow.

Malyangaapa Culture and Beliefs

The Malyangaapa people have deep cultural beliefs. These beliefs are often connected to the land and the Dreaming. The Dreaming is a very important part of Indigenous Australian spirituality. It tells stories about how the world was created.

The Rainbow Serpent: Kakurra

In Malyangaapa Dreaming stories, there is a powerful creator figure. This figure is known as the Rainbow Serpent. The Malyangaapa called this serpent kakurra. Other nearby groups had similar figures. For example, the Paakantyi called it Ngatyi. The Adnyamathanha called it akurra.

The Malyangaapa also had strong connections with their neighbors. They shared cultural ideas and even married people from the nearby Wanjiwalku group.

A Look at Their History

European settlers began arriving on Malyangaapa lands around 1862 or 1863. At that time, it was thought that about 200 Malyangaapa people lived there. Over the next ten years, this number dropped. By 1879, only about 60 Malyangaapa people were believed to have survived. About half of these were under the age of fourteen. This shows the big impact that European settlement had on the Indigenous Australian population.

Different Names for the Malyangaapa

The Malyangaapa people were known by several different names. These names might have been used by other groups or recorded differently over time. Some of these names include:

• Maljangaba
• Malya-napa, Mulya-napa, Mulya-nappa
• Milya-uppa
• Mullia-arpa, Muliaarpa
• Malynapa, Malja:pa, Malyapa
• Maljangaba
• Nalyanapa (possibly a mistake in writing)
• Malgangara
• Karikari (meaning 'yes')
• Bulalli, Bulali (meaning 'hill people')

Learning Malyangaapa Words

Here are some words from the Malyangaapa language:

• talda (kangaroo)
• koonoo (tame dog)
• urlka (wild dog)
• koomarde (father)
• armunde (mother)
• tootoo (whiteman)
• bula (hill)
• kari (yes)
• wii (fire or firewood)
• kalithi (emu)