Mirning facts for kids

The Mirning people, also called the Ngandatha, are an Aboriginal Australian group. Their traditional lands were along the coast of the Great Australian Bight. This area stretches from Western Australia into the southwest part of South Australia.

What's in a Name?

The word Mirniŋ meant 'man' in their language.

Mirning Language

The Mirning people spoke a language called Ngandatha. This name means "What is it?".

Traditional Lands

The Mirning's traditional lands covered a large area. It was about 101,000 square kilometers (39,000 square miles). This land reached from Point Culver in the west to White Well in South Australia. Their northern border was usually the edge of the Nullarbor Plain. However, after good rains, they would travel further north.

Mirning People and Early Contact

In 1872, the Jirkala-mirning group first met white settlers. At that time, their numbers were estimated to be around 30 people. This included 11 men, 8 women, 5 teenagers, and 6 children. By 1877, when white settlers arrived in Wonunda-mirnung territory, the total Mirning population was thought to be no more than 80 people. This included 15 men, 15 women, 10 teenagers, and about 40 children.

How They Lived

The Mirning people were organized into different groups. Two of these groups are well-known:

• Wonunda-mirnung: These were the people of the Hampton plateau. This area is west of Eyre's Sand Patch.
• Jirkala-mirning: These were the people of Jirkala, which is now called Eucla. The word jirkala referred to their home, which was a treeless plain where a plant called Salsola tragus grew.

The Mirning had a special kinship system with four main groups:

• Būdera (meaning 'root')
• Būdū (meaning 'digger')
• Kūra (meaning 'dingo')
• Wenŭng (meaning 'wombat')

Protecting Their Heritage

In December 2022, there was sad news about the Koonalda Cave near Nullarbor. This cave holds ancient artwork that is 30,000 years old. It is a very sacred place for the Mirning people. Sadly, vandals damaged the artwork by writing graffiti on it.

Mirning in Film

The Mirning people's culture has been featured in films.

• In 1994, Julian Lennon planned a documentary film called Eyes of the Soul – Legends of Whales, Dolphins and Tribes. This film would have explored the Mirning's special connection with whales.
• A documentary called Whaledreamers – the Gathering was made in 2006. It also mentions the Mirning people.

Other Names for Mirning

The Mirning people have been known by several other names over time:

• Mining, Meening, Minninng, Mininj
• Ngandatha, Ngandada
• Wanbiri (meaning 'sea coast')
• Warnabirrie
• Wonbil, Wonburi (These were names used by the Kokatha people for the Jirkalamirning group.)
• Wonunda-meening (wonunda means 'low landers' from the Eyre area or south of the Hampton cliff.)
• Wonunda-minung
• Warnabinnie
• Wanmaraing
• Yirkla, Yirkala-Mining, Yerkla-mining
• East Meening/East Mining
• Ikala, Ikula
• Ngadjudjara
• Ngadjuwonga
• Ngadjadjara
• Julbari/Julbara (meaning 'south')
• Ba:duk

Some Mirning Words

Here are a few words from the Mirning language:

• mobung (magic)
• doodoo or judoo (wild dog)
• mumma (father) - In the Jirkala-mirning dialect, it was mummaloo.
• yarkle (mother) - In the Jirkala-mirning dialect, it was yakaloo.
• wandy-murna (children) - In the Jirkala-mirning dialect, it was wonderong.