Miriwoong people facts for kids
The Miriwoong people are an Aboriginal Australian group. They live in the Kimberley region. This area is in northern Western Australia. Their name can also be spelled Miriwung or Miriuwung.
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The Miriwoong Language
The Miriwoong language is very important to the Miriwoong people. It is one of only three languages left from the Jarrakan languages family. The word jarrak means 'language' or 'speech'. Sadly, the Miriwoong language is almost gone. Only about 20 people can speak it fluently today. An interesting word in their language is jendoobang. It means 'string'.
Traditional Lands and Neighbors
The Miriwoong people's traditional lands were very large. They covered about 10,000 square kilometers (4,000 square miles). Their land stretched from the Ord River valley in the south. It went north to places like Carlton Hill Station and Ivanhoe Station. To the east, their land reached just over the border into the Northern Territory. This included an area near Newry Station. They also lived along the Keep River all the way to the coast.
The Miriwoong people shared borders with several other Aboriginal groups. To their north were the Gajirrawoong people. To the northeast were the Jamindjung. The Ngarinman lived to their east. The Gija were to their south. And the Ngarinyin lived to their west.
Native Title Recognition
The Miriwoong people, along with the Gajirrawoong people, made a native title claim. This claim was supported by the Kimberley Land Council. Native title means recognising that Aboriginal people have traditional rights to their land.
The Federal Court officially agreed with their claim. This happened on December 9, 2003. This first claim covered about 7,095 square kilometers (2,740 square miles). It included areas like Kununurra, Lake Argyle, the Keep River, and the Ord River irrigation area.
Another native title claim was decided in November 2006. This claim covered about 6,758 square kilometers (2,610 square miles). It included parts of Carlton Hill Station and Ivanhoe Station. It also covered the Rosewood Station. The court recognised that the Miriwoong and Gajirrawoong people had special rights to use and control certain areas.
Other Names for Miriwoong
The Miriwoong people are also known by a few other names:
- Miriwun
- Miriwong
- Mirriwong
- Miriwu (a name used by the Gija people)
- Moreng (meaning "westerners")
- Mirong
- Mirung
Miriwoong People Today
Most Miriwoong people who follow traditional ways live in Kununurra. They also live on surrounding stations, which are large farming properties.
