Matuntara people facts for kids
The Matuntara are an Indigenous Australian group of people. They traditionally lived in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Contents
What Language Did They Speak?
The Matuntara people spoke a language called Antakarinya. Sometimes, their language was also known as "Southern Luritja."
Where Did the Matuntara Live?
The Matuntara people lived in a large area. This area was about 14,000 square miles (36,000 km2) in size. They moved around a lot, living a nomadic life. Their lands were south of the Levi Range. They lived near the Palmer River, which flows into the Finke River.
Their land stretched east to Erldunda. To the west, it reached Curtin Springs. Their traditional country even crossed into what is now South Australia.
Who Were Their Neighbours?
The Matuntara had several neighbours. To their south lived the Antakirinja people. To their northwest were the Gugadja people. Sometimes, early explorers thought the Matuntara were a southern group of the Gugadja.
A Bit of Their History
Around the late 1800s or early 1900s, something interesting happened. A group of Pitjantjatjara people, called the Maiulatara clan, moved east. They came from north of the Petermann Range. The Matuntara people welcomed them. The Maiulatara clan became part of the Matuntara group.
Other Names for the Matuntara
Like many groups, the Matuntara were known by different names. These names were used by other groups or by early explorers. Some of these names include:
- Matutara
- Matjutu
- Maduntara (This was a name used by the Pitjantjatjara people, sometimes not in a friendly way.)
- Madutara
- Maiulatara (Used by the Antakirinja and Yankuntjatjarra people)
- Maiuladjara
- Southern Loritja
- Aluna (A Pitjantjatjara name for those who spoke the Matuntara language)
- Ku'dadji (Another Pitjantjatjara term, used to tell them apart from the Mangawara people)
