Minyambuta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Minyambuta |
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|---|---|
| Indigenous Australian tribe | |
| Location | Northern Victoria, Australia |
The Minjambuta were an Aboriginal Australian group. They lived in the northern part of Victoria, Australia.
Contents
Language and Communication
The Minjambuta people spoke a language that was similar to the Dhudhuroa language. Some experts, like R. H. Mathews, believed it was a dialect of Dhudhuroa. However, other reports suggested it might have been a separate language.
Traditional Lands
The Minjambuta's traditional lands covered about 2,400 square miles (6,200 km2) (about 6,200 square kilometers). These lands were located near the upper parts of several rivers. These rivers included the Buffalo, King, Ovens, and Broken rivers. Their territory was east of Violet Town and stretched south towards the Great Dividing Range.
A researcher named Norman Tindale figured out these boundaries. He looked at the lands of neighboring groups, like the Dhudhuroa to the northeast and the Jaitmathang to the east. The area that was left over was then thought to be the Minjambuta's land.
Daily Life and Culture
Not much is known about the Minjambuta people. Most of what we know comes from the notes of early researchers like R. H. Mathews, who wrote in 1904.
The Minjambuta's way of life seemed to be similar to other groups living further south. They likely had special ceremonies for young people becoming adults.
One important part of their culture involved the Bogong moth. The Minjambuta's land included Mount Buffalo, which was a key place where these moths gathered. During certain seasons, the moths would rest there. The Minjambuta, along with other groups like the Djilamatang, the Walgalu, and the Jaitmathang, would travel to these areas. The Bogong moths were a very important food source, considered a great treat. While gathering the moths, different groups would also hold important ceremonies together.
Early European Contact
In 1851, two stockmen named Jim Brown and Jack Wells explored the Bogong High Plains. They were looking for new places for their animals to graze. These plains were part of the Minjambuta's traditional lands. Within ten years, settlers regularly brought their livestock to graze in these areas. This led to more contact between the Minjambuta people and the new settlers.
Other Names for the Minjambuta
The Minjambuta people were also known by a few other names:
- Mr Buffalo tribe
- Minyambuta
- Mogullumbitch
