Yandruwandha people facts for kids

The Yandruwandha people, also called Jandruwanta, are an Aboriginal Australian group. They live in the Lakes area of South Australia. This is south of Cooper Creek and west of the Wangkumara people's land.

Yandruwandha Language

The Yandruwandha language is a group of different ways of speaking, called dialects. Some of these dialects are Yawarrawarrka and Nhirppi. This language is part of the Karna language family. A well-known version of the language was written down by Gavan Breen. He learned it from people in Innamincka.

Traditional Lands

The Yandruwandha people traditionally lived on about 10,900 square miles (28,230 square kilometers) of land. According to Norman Tindale, their land stretched from south of Cooper Creek. This area included places like Innamincka and Carraweena. Strzelecki Creek was also part of their traditional country.

Important History

The Yandruwandha people played a big part in the Burke and Wills expedition. This was a famous journey by explorers in Australia.

Helping Explorers

Stories passed down through the Yandruwandha people say that William John Wills made a good impression. He was one of the explorers. Elders, or respected older people, gave him shelter in a walpa (a type of shelter). He even stayed with a young person who was not yet initiated.

While Burke and Wills sadly died, another explorer, John King, survived. He was able to live because the Yandruwandha people helped him. Edwin Welch, a surveyor, later found King living safely with the Yandruwandha. Welch was part of a group sent to find the missing explorers.

Impact of Illness

Many Yandruwandha people became sick during the 1919 flu pandemic. This was a worldwide illness that affected many communities.

Native Title Rights

In 1988, the Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka people asked for their land rights to be officially recognized. This is called a "native title" claim.

Land Recognition

In 2015, a Federal Court officially recognized their native title. This means they have special rights over about 40,000 square kilometers (15,444 square miles) of land. This land is in the outback of South Australia. It includes areas like Coongie Lakes National Park. It also covers the Innamincka Regional Reserve and the Strzelecki Regional Reserve.

Notable People

• Murtee Johnny (born around 1888; died 1979) was a well-known Yandruwandha man. He was the last member of the Yandruwandha from the Strzelecki Track area. Many of his people died during the 1919 flu pandemic. Murtee Johnny was a very skilled stockman. He worked with livestock on the Mount Hopeless station in the Flinders Ranges.

Other Names

The Yandruwandha people have been known by several other names, including:

• Yandruwunta, Yandruwonta, Yantruwanta, Jendruwonta, Yandra Wandra.
• Yandrawontha, Yanderawantha, Yantowannta, Jandruwalda.
• Yanduwulda.
• Endawarra.
• Innamouka (a name related to the place Innamincka).