Ngajanji facts for kids

The Ngajanji (also called Ngadyan or Ngadjon-Jii) are an Indigenous Australian people. They live in the rainforests south of Cairns in northern Queensland. They are one of eight groups that make up the Dyirbal tribes. The other groups include the Yidin, Mamu, Dyirbal, Girramay, Warrgamay, Waruŋu, and Mbabaram.

What's in a Name?

The name Ngajanji or Ngadyan refers to the language spoken by these people. Their actual tribal name was Ngadyandyi. This information comes from Robert M. W. Dixon, a famous language expert.

Their Special Language

The Ngajanji people spoke a language called Ngadyan. This language was a dialect of Dyirbal. It was quite different from other Dyirbal dialects. One unique feature was how they made vowels longer.

How Their Language Sounded

If a vowel was followed by 'l', 'r', or 'y' and then another consonant, the vowel would become longer. For example, the word gibar (meaning large fig tree) in other dialects became gibaa in Ngadyan. Also, jalgur (meat) became jaaguu.

The "Mother-in-Law" Language

They also had a special way of speaking called Jalnay. This was a mother-in-law language. When a person's mother-in-law or her close relatives were nearby, they would use different words. For instance, guda (dog) would be replaced by nyimbaa, but it still meant 'dog'.

When the Language Was Last Spoken

By the mid-1960s, when Robert Dixon started studying the language, only six people still spoke it. The last people who knew about the Ngajan language lived in Malanda.

Their Traditional Lands

The Ngajan people's traditional lands covered about 200 square miles (518 square kilometers). These lands were north and west of Innisfail. They stretched from the Atherton Tableland rainforest plateau east to the upper Russell River.

Places on Their Land

Their country included areas like Yungaburra, Malanda, and the mountain range north of Millaa Millaa. To the north, their land bordered the Yidinji. To the east, between them and the coast, were the Yidinji-Wanyurr. The Waribarra Mamu lived to their south.

An Old Idea About the People

Some researchers, like Joseph Birdsell and Norman Tindale, once suggested that the Ngajan people were part of a very old group. They thought the Ngajan, along with 11 other tribes in the area, might be descendants of the first Aboriginal peoples in Australia. This idea is called the "Barrinean hypothesis."

Their Ancient Stories

The Ngajanji people have a special story about how three volcanic lakes were formed. These lakes are Yidyam (Lake Eacham), Barany (Lake Barrine), and Ngimun (Lake Euramoo).

The Legend of the Lakes

The story says that two young men, who had just become adults in the tribe, broke an important rule. At that time, the Ngajanji land was open scrubland. Their actions made the Rainbow serpent very angry. The ground beneath their camp started to shake, strong winds blew, and the sky turned a strange red color.

As the earth cracked open, the scared people were swallowed up and disappeared into the ground. Robert Dixon heard this legend in 1964. He thought it might be a memory of the volcanic lakes forming about 10,000 years ago. This shows how well these ancient stories were passed down through generations.

A Glimpse into Their History

The Ngajanji people living around Yungaburra and Lake Eacham were greatly affected by new settlers. This happened after John Atherton found tin in 1878 at Tinaroo. Roads were built, connecting the area to the coast, which brought more people.

Their Descendants Today

In 1910, a Russian adventurer named Leandro Ilin came to the area. He settled there with other Russians, creating a place they called 'Little Siberia'. He became friends with Kittie Clarke, a Ngajanji woman who was a widow.

A Family's Story

Kittie became pregnant with Leandro's child, and he wanted to marry her. However, he needed permission from the government official called the Protector of Aborigines in Atherton. It was a struggle for him to make their relationship legal. They eventually had five children together. In 2005, a documentary film about their story was made by Julie Nimmo.

Last Known Speakers

The last known people who spoke the Ngadyan dialect were Tommy Land, Jimmy Brown, Mollie Raymond, and Ginnie Daniels.

Other Names for the Ngajanji

Some Words from Their Language

• yibi (woman). In Dyirbal this word was jugumbil, and gumbul in Girramay.