Nanda people facts for kids

The Nhanda people, also spelled Nanda, are an Aboriginal Australian group. They live in the mid-west part of Western Australia. Their traditional lands are around the mouth of the Murchison River.

Nhanda Language and Culture

The Nhanda people traditionally spoke the Nhanda language. This language had three main types, or dialects. The Nhanda dialect was spoken in the north. The Watchandi dialect was used in the middle, near Port Gregory. The Amangu dialect was spoken in the south. The Nhanda language was special because it was quite different from other languages spoken nearby. It had unique ways of forming words and sentences.

Traditional Lands and Native Title

Where the Nhanda People Lived

The Nhanda people's traditional lands covered a large area. It stretched from a place called Willigabi north along the coast. This included areas near Northampton, Shark Bay, Hamelin Pool, and Yaringa. To their north were the Malgana and Nokaan peoples. To their south were the Amangu people.

Recognising Native Title Rights

After a long effort of 24 years, the Nhanda people received an important recognition on November 28, 2018. They were officially recognised as the traditional owners of over 17,000 square kilometres (about 6,564 square miles) of land and water. This area is in the Yamatji region of Western Australia. This recognition means they have special rights over several important places. These include Paradise Flats, Bully, Wilgie Mia, Mooliabatanya, and Syphon pools.

Spring Ceremonies: The Caroo

Celebrating with the Caroo Festival

Augustus Oldfield described a special ceremony called the Caroo. This festival took place in mid-spring. It was a time for the Nhanda people to celebrate. Before the festival, people would gather lots of food. This food would last them for the whole celebration.

Traditions During the Caroo

On the evening before the festival, women and children would move away from the men. They would shout "Ow-ee, Ow-ee" as they went. During the ceremony, men were not allowed to see women. However, if they needed more food, this rule was sometimes bent. The men would rub their bodies with a mix of charcoal, ashes, and wallaby fat. They would also dig a large pit in the ground. After eating a lot, they would rest.

The next morning, the men would decorate themselves. They used a mix of ochre and emu fat. They also styled their hair with fine shavings. They wore garlands made of My-a-lie and A-rum-ba plants. This decorating and feasting lasted all day. In the evening, the main ceremony began. The men danced around the pit they had dug. They shouted, sang, and some even whistled. This was unusual for their normal dances. They continued all night, taking turns to rest and eat. Every dance move and song was part of this important cultural celebration.

Nhanda Social Groups

The Nhanda people were organised into different groups. At least three of these groups were:

• Buluguda
• Daguda (who lived at Billiecutherra)
• Tamala (who lived at Tamala Homestead)

Other Names for the Nhanda People

The Nhanda people were also known by several other names, including:

• Yau
• Jau
• Eaw
• Watjandi
• Watchandi
• Watchandie
• Buluguda
• Bulgulu
• Tamala
• Daguda

Some Nhanda Words

Here are a few words from the Nhanda language:

• ithu (otthoo) – a tame dog
• ngobano – a wild dog
• ama (amo) – father
• agu (ago) – mother
• erato – north
• euna – south
• angalo – east
• watchu – west
• arnmanu – man, person
• nyarlu – woman
• abarla – child