Ngawait facts for kids

The Ngawait people were an Aboriginal Australian group from the mid-Riverland region in South Australia. They lived along the Murray River. Sometimes, they were considered part of a larger group called the Meru people. This larger group could also include the Ngaiawang and Erawirung peoples. The Ngawait had at least two main family groups or clans: the Barmerara Meru and Muljulpero maru.

Their Traditional Land

The Ngawait people lived on about 1,600 square miles (4,144 square kilometers) of land. They were one of the many Aboriginal tribes living along the Murray River. Their land stretched between Boggy Flat and Penn Reach, near Loxton. They also lived on the western side of Lake Bonney. A special place on the Murray River was called Wutjuwati, located between Nildottie and Devon Downs.

The Ngawait language helps define their traditional lands in the upper Murray River area of South Australia. Different groups, like the Barmerara Meru, lived in specific places such as Barmera. Their land was next to the Ngaiawang people on the west and the Erawirung people on the east.

Family Groups and Clans

The Ngawait people were made up of smaller groups or clans. At least two of these are known:

• Barmerara Meru (who lived near Barmera)
• Muljulpero maru

Language

The Ngawait people spoke the Ngawait language.

Coming-of-Age Ceremony

Edward John Eyre described an important ceremony of the Ngawait people. This ceremony helped young people become adults in their community. It was a special rite of passage.

When different tribes gathered for the ceremony, the men of the host tribe would sit in a row. The young people, called novices, sat behind them. The women sat behind the novices. When a new group arrived, their men, painted and carrying weapons, would approach. Their women and children followed separately.

Sometimes, women from the arriving group would stand between the two tribes. They would throw down their cloaks and bags and make loud cries. After a while, they would pick up their things and return to their group.

An elder from another group would then speak with the local people. He would bring his men forward, holding three spears with small nets attached. These nets showed the important duty they had to perform. The men of the Moorundie tribe would then stand up with a quiet shout. The visiting group would then set up their camp nearby.

When all the tribes had arrived, a date was set for the ceremonies. On that morning, the young novices were brought out of the camp. They were gently held and painted from head to foot with red ochre and grease. Their mothers and other family members would gather around, showing their emotions.

After being painted, the novices were led away by their guardians. They sat on green bushes that had been brought for them. If they needed to move, they held green branches in each hand. Three spears with nets were placed in the ground nearby. Three men sat at the base of these spears.

Two men would then carefully lift each novice and lay them on their backs on green branches. Their heads rested on the laps of the three men by the spears. The novices kept their eyes closed and acted as if they were in a trance.

A cloak was placed over each novice. People from different tribes would take turns sitting beside them and lifting the cloak. All the green branches used were collected by an elder. Then, green branches were placed under the arms and in the hands of each novice. Several people would suddenly help them stand up, while others made a loud sound. Finally, the novices' heads and bodies were rubbed with grease and red ochre. They wore feathers and kangaroo teeth tied to their hair.

Other Names