Wangaaypuwan facts for kids

The Wangaaypuwan, also known as the Wangaibon or Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan, are one of the many First Peoples of Australia. They traditionally lived in parts of New South Wales, Australia. Their lands were around places like Nyngan, Ivanhoe, New South Wales, and the areas near Bogan Creek. They are a special group, or clan, within the larger Ngiyampaa nation.

What Does Wangaaypuwan Mean?

The name Wangaaypuwan comes from their word for "no". This word was written down in different ways over time, like worjai, wonghi, or wangaay.

The Wangaaypuwan Language

The Wangaaypuwan people spoke a special way of speaking, called a dialect, of the Ngiyampaa language. Sadly, the last known person who spoke this dialect was an elder known as "Old Nanny". She passed away around 1914. Only about sixty words of her language were written down.

Like other Ngiyampaa groups, the Wangaaypuwan also called themselves by names related to their home country.

Wangaaypuwan Traditional Lands

The Wangaaypuwan people lived on a large area of land. This land covered about 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers). It included the beginning of the Bogan River and creeks like Tiger's Camp and Boggy Cowal.

Their country stretched to towns such as Trida, Narromine, Nyngan, Girilambone, Cobar, and Gilgunnia. The western edge of their land was near Ivanhoe. To the south, their lands reached Trundle.

During very dry times, the Wangaaypuwan sometimes traveled into the lands of the Wiradjuri people. This was to the west, near the Lachlan River, to find food and water.

How Wangaaypuwan Society Was Organized

The Wangaaypuwan people had a special way of organizing their society. This system helped them decide who could marry whom. It also helped them understand their connection to nature.

They had different social groups, often linked to animal totems. A totem is like a special animal or plant that a group feels connected to. Here are some of their groups and their totems:

The Wangaaypuwan people often married people from the Wiradjuri group. This was a common practice between different Aboriginal nations. The marriage rules were very specific. For example, a male from the Ipai group would marry a female from the Matha group. Their children would then belong to the Kubbi group.

The Wangaaypuwan also had different names for men as they grew older. These names showed their age and their place in the community:

• A young boy was called eramurrung.
• During special initiation ceremonies, he was bimbadjeri.
• After initiation, he became bigumjeri.
• In middle age, he was known as gibera.
• An old man was called giribung.

Wangaaypuwan Stories and Lore

The Wangaaypuwan people have many important stories that teach lessons about life and the world. One famous story tells about the emu and the brolga.

Once, the emu had huge wings and could fly very high. It saw many birds fishing in a lake and wanted to learn how. The brolga, a clever bird, tricked the emu. It told the emu that to catch fish, its big wings needed to be removed. The emu agreed, and the brolga cut off its wings. Then the brolga made fun of the emu, who could no longer fly.

Years later, the emu had ten chicks, but the brolga only had one. The brolga apologized for being mean, and the emu forgave her. But the brolga was still tricky. When the emu said it was hard to feed so many chicks, the brolga suggested they eat them. The emu was tricked again. The brolga ate the chicks and then made fun of the emu for being so foolish.

Later, the brolga saw the emu sitting on ten eggs. The brolga tried to smash them. The emu rushed off the nest and chased the brolga. As the brolga flew high, the emu had nothing to throw. So, the emu picked up its last egg and threw it at the brolga. The egg hit the brolga and broke, forming the sun in the sky. This story teaches about trust, forgiveness, and the origins of things in the world.

Other Names for Wangaaypuwan

The Wangaaypuwan people have been known by several different names and spellings over time. These include:

• Mudall
• Wongai-bun
• Wonghi
• Wonghibon
• Wonghibone
• Wongi-bone
• Wo'yaibun (this might be a mistake in spelling)
• Wungai
• Wuzai/Wozai

Some Wangaaypuwan Words

Here are a few words from the Wangaaypuwan language:

• babena (father)
• boobi (baby)
• bulgari (boomerang)
• gunene (mother)
• meri (tame dog)
• walmera (medicine man)
• womboi (kangaroo)