Mamu people facts for kids

The Mamu are an Indigenous Australian people who traditionally lived in the coastal rainforest area south of Cairns in northern Queensland. They are one of eight groups often called the Dyirbal tribes. The other groups include the Yidinji, Ngajan, Dyirbal, Girramay, Warrgamay, Waruŋu, and Mbabaram.

Language and Communication

The Mamu people had a special way of speaking called Dyalŋuy (Jalnguy). This was a "mother-in-law language," used when speaking to or in the presence of certain relatives, especially a mother-in-law. It was a sign of respect. While it shared many words with the Dyirbal language, some words were different. For example, the everyday word for "foot" was jina in both languages. But in the special avoidance speech, Dyirbal used jummbur, while Mamu used winarra.

Traditional Lands

The Mamu lived in a wide area. Their traditional lands stretched from the Russell River and Cooper's Point, which is north of Innisfail. They went west towards Millaa Millaa and the Misty Mountains. To the south, their land reached as far as North Maria Creek.

History of Encounters

The Mamu and Dyirbal languages show that these two groups likely separated not too long ago. When the Mamu first met European settlers, they thought these new people were the spirits of their ancestors returning. They called them guwuy, meaning 'spirit of a deceased person'.

However, the arrival of Europeans brought many challenges. New diseases like measles, influenza, and smallpox spread, which the Mamu people had no protection against. This, along with conflicts, greatly reduced their population.

In the late 1870s and early 1880s, European redcedar cutters and Chinese gold prospectors came to the region. Sometimes, Chinese prospectors used Aboriginal people as workers. These changes had a big impact on the rainforest peoples, including the Mamu. The explorer Christie Palmerston wrote about meeting a large group of Mamu people near the North Johnstone River in 1883. He described how these encounters could be difficult and sometimes violent for the Aboriginal people, who were not used to the ways of the newcomers.

Social Structure

The Mamu people were organized into five main groups or 'hordes'. These were the Waɽibara, Dulgubarra, Bagiɽgabara, Dyiɽibara, and Mandubara. The word -barra in their names means 'person or thing associated with'.

Each group lived in a specific part of the Mamu territory:

• The Waɽibara lived in the deep, forested gorges of the Upper Johnstone River. The word wari means 'deep gorge'.
• The Dulgubarra lived in the thick scrub country further south along the Johnstone River. Dulgu means 'thick scrub'. This group, also known as "The Cassowary Tribe," was known for wearing head-dresses decorated with red and yellow cassowary feathers.
• The Dyiɽibara lived near the modern-day town of Mourilyan.
• The Mandubara lived on the South Johnstone River.

Native Title Recognition

On October 31, 2013, the descendants of the Mamu people received important recognition for their traditional lands. The Federal Court Tribunal recognized their native title rights. This meant they gained exclusive rights to about 75 square kilometers (29 square miles) of land. They also received non-exclusive rights to roughly 645 square kilometers (249 square miles) of land. This area stretches from Kurrimine to Jogo and Millaa Millaa.

Unique Words

The Mamu language has some interesting words that describe a whole idea with just one verb:

• wayngu: This word means to be busy looking after one's children.
• ngulbuny: This refers to the green (tree) ant. It was believed to have healing powers, similar to how it is viewed by the Yidinji people.