Umpila facts for kids

The Umpila people are an Aboriginal Australian group from the eastern part of Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland. Today, most Umpila people live in a place called Lockhart.

Umpila Language

The Umpila language is part of a group called North Cape York Paman languages. It's one of six different ways of speaking that are all called Umpila. Even though not many people speak it now, some elders still use it. People are working hard to bring the language back to life.

Umpila Country

The traditional land of the Umpila people is known as one of the most natural and untouched places on Earth. It covers about 777 square kilometers (300 square miles). This area stretches from Cape Sidmouth north to Night Island and to the Chester River.

Umpila country is very rich in different kinds of plants and animals. It has about 260 plant species that are found nowhere else in the world! To their north lived the Uutaalnganu people, and to their south were the Lama Lama people.

History of the Umpila People

In the 1940s, the Umpila people were forced to leave their traditional lands. Most of them now live in the Lockhart River Community.

Umpila Society and Culture

The Umpila people call themselves Umpila pama malngkanichi, which means "people of the sand beach." This name shows they are part of a larger group of coastal people in north-eastern Queensland called Kawadji.

Their society has two main family groups, called kaapay and kuyan. These names are also used to sort plants and animals into categories. People from one group must marry someone from the other group. When they have children, the children belong to the father's family group.

There are also special rules about how people in certain family relationships can talk to each other. For example, a younger person who is like a nephew might not be allowed to speak directly to his "uncle." In these cases, another family member might help them communicate.

Native Title Rights

In 2008, the descendants of the Umpila people had their rights to their traditional land, known as native title, officially recognized. This decision was made by the Federal Court. They were recognized as the traditional owners of about 1,200 square kilometers (463 square miles) of land. They also became the freehold owners of half of this land.

Some Umpila Words

• pulpanchi (red)
• pulpichi (white)
• thungkuthungku (black)

Other Names for Umpila

• Koko-umpilo
• Ompeila, Ompela, Oombilla