Wanggamala facts for kids

The Wanggamala people, also spelt Wangkamahdla, Wangkamadla, Wangkamanha, Wangkamana, Wonkamala, Wongkamala, Wonkamudla, and other variants, are an Aboriginal Australian people of the Northern Territory and Queensland.

Country

In Norman Tindale's estimate, Wanggamala tribal lands covered some 20,000 square miles (52,000 km²) of territory. They roamed north-west of Annandale, at Kalidawarry and around the lower Field and Hay rivers, along the Plenty river, and on the eastern margins of the Simpson Desert. River waters were ephemeral and they dug native wells (mikari).

In July 2021, the Wanggamala people, spelt Wangkamahdla in the claim, won native title rights to over 3,000,000 ha (7,400,000 acres) west and south-west of Boulia, stretching from around Bedourie, Queensland, across to the Northern Territory border, including Cravens Peak Reserve (named Pilungah Reserve in October 2021) and part of the Munga-Thirri National Park.

Language

Their language was Wanggamala, which is now extinct.

Economy

The Wanggamala lived in areas where the native tobacco pituri grows and, aside from using it themselves, they employed it as a valuable trading resource.

Alternative names