Yukulta facts for kids
The Yukulta people, also known as Ganggalidda, are an Aboriginal Australian group from Queensland. They are sometimes called Jokula or Jukula. Some people think they might be the same as the Yanga group.
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Yukulta Country and Land
The Yukulta people traditionally lived in northern Queensland. Their land stretched from Burketown to Hann Creek and Massacre Inlet. They also lived along the coast west of Cliffdale Creek. Inland, their country reached close to the Nicholson River. To the east, their land was near the mouth of the Albert River, close to Escott.
Experts like Kerwin (2011) and Trigger (2015) say the Ganggalidda lived on the southern coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria. This was west of Moonlight Creek. Today, many of their descendants live in and around Mungubie (Burketown).
Neighboring Groups
The Garrwa people lived to the west of the Yukulta. The Waanyi lived to their south-west. The Nguburinji were to their south. The Mingginda lived to the east.
Native Title Rights
The Yukulta/Ganggalida are one of four groups who have made native title claims. These claims are for coastal areas in the southern gulf region. Native title means they have special rights to their traditional lands.
Their claim includes land that was once Mingginda territory. However, the Yukulta/Ganggalida people showed they had a right to this land. This is because many of their ancestors moved there in the late 1800s. Now, places like Burketown, the Albert River, and the lower Nicholson River are part of their Dreaming stories.
Yukulta Language
The Yukulta/Ganggalidda people spoke the Yukulta language. This language is part of the Tangkic language family. Sadly, the Yukulta language is now extinct. The word "Kangkalita" (Ganggalidda) is said to mean "language."
Other Names for Yukulta
- Jugul, Jugulda
- Jogula, Jokala, Jokul, Jokal
- Iukala, Yukula, Yookala
- Eugoola
- Jungulda (Yanggal term)
- Kanggaleida (Yanggal term)
- Yangarella
- Engarilla
