Wotjobaluk people facts for kids

The Wotjobaluk are an Aboriginal Australian people who traditionally lived in the state of Victoria. They are closely related to the Wergaia people. Their history and culture are an important part of Australia's heritage.

Understanding the Wergaia Language

The Wotjobaluk people speak the Wergaia language. A long time ago, a researcher named R. H. Mathews studied the Wotjobaluk language. He found that it had a special way of counting. It used four different numbers:

• Singular: for one thing (like wutju for one man)
• Dual: for two things (like wutju-buliñ for two men)
• Trial: for three things (like wutju-kullik for three men)
• Plural: for many things (like wutju-getyaul for several men)

The language even had two ways to say "us three" depending on if the person you were talking to was included or not!

Today, there's an exciting project to bring the Wergaia language back to life. In 2021, a language program started at the Wotjobaluk Knowledge Place in Dimboola. This program helps people learn and speak the language again.

Traditional Wotjobaluk Lands

The Wotjobaluk people lived on a large area of land, about 12,400 square kilometres (4,800 square miles). This land included important natural features like the Wimmera River and Outlet Creek. It also had two big lakes, Lake Hindmarsh and Lake Albacutya.

Their traditional country stretched from Dimboola, Kaniva, and Servicetown in the south. To the west, it went past Yanac. In the east, it reached Warracknabeal and Lake Korong. Their northern boundary was around Pine Plains. This land was very important for their way of life.

Wotjobaluk Social Groups

The Wotjobaluk people were organised into different groups, often called bands or clans. These groups lived in specific areas within their larger territory. There were 11 main bands:

• Lail-buil: Lived between Pine Plains and the River Murray.
• Jakelbalak: Lived between Pine Plains and Lake Albacutya.
• Kromelak: Lived at Lake Albacutya.
• Wanmung Wanmungkur: Lived at Lake Hindmarsh.
• Kapuu-kapunbara: Lived on the River Wimmera, near Lake Hindmarsh.
• Duwinbarap: Lived west of the River Wimmera.
• Jackalbarap: Lived west of Duwinbarap.
• Jarambiuk: Lived at Yarriambiack Creek.
• Whitewurudiuk: Lived east of Yarriambiack Creek.
• Kerabialbarap: Lived south of Mount Arapiles.
• Murra-murra-barap: Lived in the Grampians area.

Hunting Skills and Knowledge

Wotjobaluk hunters had amazing knowledge about animals. They knew that kangaroos have very good hearing. They could hear a hunter from as far as 137 metres (150 yards) just by the sound of ankle bones cracking!

Hunters also observed that older kangaroos might drop their young from their marsupial pouch if chased by dingoes. This was a clever trick to distract the dingoes and help the older kangaroo escape.

The Wotjobaluk Knowledge Place

The Wotjobaluk Knowledge Place is a special cultural centre located in Dimboola. It was opened in December 2020. This centre is a hub for many activities. Besides teaching the Wergaia language, it also:

• Displays beautiful artworks by local artists.
• Holds workshops where people can learn new skills.
• Serves as a place for the community to gather and connect.

It's a place where culture is celebrated and passed down to new generations.

Other Names for Wotjobaluk

Like many Aboriginal groups, the Wotjobaluk people were known by several different names. These names might have been dialect names, or names used by neighbouring groups. Some of these names include:

• Buibatjali or buibatyalli
• Gnallbagootchyourl
• Gourrbaluk (meaning "Lake Hindmarsh people," used by the Wemba-Wemba people)
• Kurm-me-lak
• Malikunditj or Malleegunditch (a name used by northern tribes)
• Ngalbagutja (a Wemba-Wemba name for those near Lake Albacutya)
• Tjatijala, Tyattyalla, or Djadjala (a regional name for those west of Lake Hindmarsh)
• Wattyabullak
• Wimmera tribe
• Woitu-bullar (meaning "men," used by the Barababaraba tribe)
• Wotjo-ba-laiuruk (meaning "men and women")
• Woychibirik (another name for "man")
• Wuttyabullak or Wuttyuballeak

Some Wergaia Words

Here are a few words from the Wergaia language:

• dhallung (male or buck kangaroo)
• gal (dog)
• kulkun (a boy)
• laiaruk (a woman)
• lanangurk (a girl)
• mindyun (a kangaroo)
• muty (female kangaroo)
• winya nyua (Who is there?)
• wotjo (a man)