Miwa people facts for kids
The Miwa are an Aboriginal Australian people. They come from the Kimberley region in Western Australia.
What's in a Name?
The word 'Miwa' means 'salt water' or 'sea' in their language. This name was often used for people who lived near the coast. Other groups were sometimes called Miwa too. For example, the Ngarinyin people called the Gija by this name. In this article, 'Miwa' refers to the group connected to the King Edward River area.
Miwa Country and Lands
The Miwa people lived on a large area of land. This land covered about 2,200 square miles (5,700 square kilometers). On the coast, their lands were around the eastern side of Napier Broome Bay. They also lived near the lower King Edward River and eastwards to Cape Bernier.
Inland, their country reached Mount Connelly and the Drysdale River. It also included the Barton Plain. Parts of the King George River and a range called Manungu were also in their territory. The Miwa were sometimes grouped with the Wirngir people. Together, they were known by the name Walar.
Other Names for the Miwa
The Miwa people were known by several different names over time. Some of these names included:
- Konun
- Kaianu
- Murgura (used for an eastern Miwa group)
- Kuna
- Manungu (a place name)
- Kalumbura (a place name)
- Wulanggur (a place name)
- Wularjgu (a name given by the Ngarinyin people)
- Umari (a place name)
- Walar (a name linked to a snake clan)
