Marrithiyal people facts for kids

The Marrithiyal, also written Marithiel, are an Aboriginal Australian people. Their traditional lands were about 30 to 50 miles (50 to 80 km) south of the Daly River in the Northern Territory. Other groups sometimes called them Berringen, which meant "strangers."

Marrithiyal Language

The Marrithiyal people have their own language, also called Marrithiyal. It is part of the Daly River Languages group. This language is special because it uses prefixes, which is rare for Australian languages.

The Marrithiyal language has three main types, or dialects: Marri Ammu, Marridan, and Marrisjabin. In 2006, only about 6 people still spoke the language. Most Marrithiyal people now speak Kriol.

The name Marrithiyal might come from two words: mari (meaning speech) and thiel (meaning paperbark). This suggests the name means "people of the paperbark tea tree swamps." This makes sense because their homeland had many paperbark forests.

Dreamtime Stories

The Marrithiyal people have many important stories from the Dreamtime. One famous story is about the Rainbow Serpent.

In their version, the Rainbow Serpent did not have a wife. So, it took a wife from a flying fox who had two. The flying fox got angry and speared the Rainbow Serpent. The serpent then fell into the water. The flying fox flew up into the sky. This is one of many different versions of the Rainbow Serpent story told in this area.

History of the Marrithiyal People

The traditional lands of the Marrithiyal were southwest of Majar hill. This area is now known as Hermit Hill. It is located between the Daly and Fitzmaurice Rivers.

When white settlers arrived in the 1880s, the Marrithiyal people faced many changes. Like other Aboriginal groups, many were forced to leave their lands. They moved to a small area about 20 miles (32 km) long along the Daly River. This area was already home to other groups who had almost disappeared by the 1930s.

Many Marrithiyal people moved to different places. Some went to the lands of the former Kungarakany, Tyaraity, and Wogait peoples. Others found jobs in Darwin or on peanut farms along the Daly River. Some worked as stockmen at the Mt. Litchfield cattle station. Others moved to the Port Keats mission station.

There was often tension between the Marrithiyal and Marringar groups (sometimes called 'Mooill') and their neighbors, the Mulluk-Mulluk and Nangiomeri. These groups often did not trade with each other. However, they would sometimes meet for special ceremonies.

In the 1930s, a researcher named W. E. H. Stanner spent about six weeks with the Marrithiyal people. He found it hard to connect with them at first. But he eventually gained their trust. He was then allowed to watch and learn about their ceremonies.