Warrwa facts for kids
The Warrwa people, sometimes called Warwa, are an Aboriginal Australian group. They come from the Kimberley area in Western Australia.
Warrwa Language
The Warrwa people speak the Warrwa language. It is part of a group of languages called Nyulnyulan languages. The Warrwa language is very similar to the Nyigina language. Some people even think it is a dialect of Nyigina.
Traditional Lands
The traditional lands of the Warrwa people covered a large area. According to Norman Tindale, a famous researcher, their land was about 9,800 square kilometres (3,800 square miles). This area stretched along the eastern coast of King Sound. It went from the Fraser River all the way to Round Hill on Stokes Bay.
Their land also reached inland to the upper Logue River. On the Fitzroy River, their territory went as far as Yeeda. They also lived near Derby and north of Meda. Their inland boundary was about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the coast.
The Warrwa shared their borders with other Aboriginal groups. To their north were the Umiida people. To their east were the Unggumi people. The Nyigina people lived to their south.
Life Before European Contact
Before European settlers arrived, the Warrwa people's lands saw some changes. The Nyigina people moved down the Fitzroy River. This movement separated some Warrwa groups from each other.
Because of this, the Nyigina people started to call the western Warrwa "little Warrwa." They called the eastern Warrwa, who lived around Derby and Meda, "big Warrwa." This showed how the groups were now seen as distinct.
Other Names for the Warrwa
The Warrwa people have been known by a few different names, including:
- Waruwa
- Warwai or Warrwai
- Kolaruma (This name was used by the Unggumi people. It means 'people of the coast'.)
