Wangkangurru facts for kids
The Wangkangurru are an Aboriginal Australian people. They live in the Simpson Desert area of South Australia. They also call themselves Nharla.
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Wangkangurru Country
The traditional land of the Wangkangurru people covered a large area. It stretched from Stevenson Creek northwards to Mount Dare. To the east, their land reached Macumba Creek.
They also lived along the lower parts of the Finke River. The southern part of the Simpson Desert was also their territory. To the southeast, their land went as far as Kallakoopah Creek and the Warburton River. Places like Blood Creek and Atna Hill were also on Wangkangurru lands.
Native Title Recognition
Today, the Wangkangurru people work together with the Yarluyandi people. They have a group called the Wangkangurru Yarluyandi Aboriginal Corporation.
In 2014, their special rights to their traditional land were officially recognized. This is called native title. It covered a large part of the Simpson Desert.
Wangkangurru Language
The Wangkangurru language is part of a big group called Pama-Nyungan. Most Aboriginal Australian languages belong to this group.
The word Nharla is what the Wangkangurru people call themselves. It means "man" in the Arabana language.
Notable Wangkangurru People
- Mick McLean (Irinyili) (1888–1977) was a very wise and respected elder. He was known as a "man of high degree" (minpari). Mick knew a lot about the land, languages, and culture of northern South Australia.
He understood traditional song cycles and stories. These stories covered a huge area, from the Simpson Desert in the north to Port Augusta in the south. They also stretched from Indulkana in the west to Innamincka in the east.
Mick McLean was fluent in five Aboriginal languages. He was a master of Wangkangurru, Arabana, and a southern type of Arrernte. He also knew Diyari and Antakarinya.
Some Wangkangurru Words
- minparu – This word means a very wise person, a clever person, or a traditional healer.
Other Names for Wangkangurru
The Wangkangurru people have been known by several other names, including:
- Wangkanguru (a different way to say it)
- Wongkongaru, Wonkanguru, Wonkonguru
- Ongkongura
- Wongkaooroo, Wonkgongaru, Wonkongaru, Wonkaoora
- Wongonooroo, Wonkongnuru, Wonkagnurra, Wonkanooroo
- Unganoora
- Känguru (a shorter version)
- Gongaru
- Partama (a name used by the Gugadja people)
- Wingkungira (a name used by the Iliaura people)
