Wik Elken facts for kids
The Wik Elken (also called Wik-Kalkan or Wik-Ngatharr) were an Aboriginal Australian group. They were one of the many Wik tribes living on the Cape York Peninsula. This area is located in the state of Queensland, Australia.
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Understanding the Wik Elken People
The Wik Elken people have a rich history and culture. They are an important part of Australia's First Nations heritage. Their traditions and way of life were deeply connected to their land.
Their Language
The Wik Elken people spoke the Wik-Kalkan language. This language was part of a larger group known as the Wik languages. These languages are spoken by many different Aboriginal groups in the Cape York Peninsula region.
Their Traditional Lands
The traditional lands of the Wik-Kalkan people were located in Queensland. They lived along the coast, north of a place called Cape Keerweer. Their territory was north of the lands belonging to the Wikepa people.
According to Norman Tindale, a famous researcher, their tribal lands covered about 777 square kilometers (300 square miles). This shows how much land they cared for and lived on.
Who Were the Wik Elken?
A researcher named Ursula McConnel wrote about the Wik-Kalkan people. In some of her early writings, she used the name Wikngatara to describe them. However, this term was actually the name for a language, not for the people themselves. It meant 'my language'.
Before she passed away, Ursula McConnel realized her mistake. She made sure to tell Norman Tindale about the error. This helped to correctly identify the Wik Elken people.
Other Names for the Wik Elken
Over time, the Wik Elken people have been known by several different names. Some of these names were:
- Wik-ngatara (this was the name mistakenly used for their language)
- Wik Alkän
- Wikkalkin
- Wik-nätara
- Algan
- Ngadara
