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Wiradjuri

Coordinates:33°50′S147°30′E/ 33.833°S 147.500°E/-33.833; 147.500
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This article is about the Indigenous Australian people. For the place, seeWiradjuri, New South Wales.
Not to be confused with theWurundjeripeople of the Yarra River Valley.

Wiradjuri
Hierarchy
Language family:Pama–Nyungan
Language branch:Yuin–Kuric
Language group:Wiradhuric
Group dialects:Wiradjuri
Area (approx. 97,100 square kilometres (37,500 sq mi))
Bioregion:Central New South Wales
Location:CentralNew South Wales
Coordinates:33°50′S147°30′E/ 33.833°S 147.500°E/-33.833; 147.500[1]
RiversGalari (Lachlan),Wambuul Macquarie,Marrambidya (Murrumbidgee), Milawa (Murray)
Notable individuals
Windradyne,Linda Burney,Tai Tuivasa

TheWiradjuri people(Wiradjurinorthern dialect pronunciation[wiraːjd̪uːraj];Wiradjuri southern dialect pronunciation[wiraːjɟuːraj]) are a group ofAboriginal Australianpeople from centralNew South Wales,united by common descent through kinship and shared traditions. They survived as skilled hunter-fisher-gatherers, in family groups or clans, and many still use knowledge of hunting and gathering techniques as part of their customary life.

In the 21st century, major Wiradjuri groups live inCondobolin,Peak Hill,NarranderaandGriffith.There are significant populations atWagga WaggaandLeetonand smaller groups atWest Wyalong,Parkes,Dubbo,Forbes,Cootamundra,Darlington Point,CowraandYoung.

Name[edit]

A Wiradjuri warrior, thought to beWindradyne[2]

The Wiradjuriautonymis derived fromwiray,meaning "no" or "not", with thecomitativesuffix-dhurayor-dyuraymeaning "having".[3]That the Wiradjuri saidwiray,as opposed to some other word for "no", was seen as a distinctive feature of their speech, and several other tribes in New South Wales, to the west of theGreat Dividing Range,are similarly named after their own words for "no".[4]A similar distinction was made betweenRomance languagesinmedieval France,with thelangues d'ocand thelangues d'oïldistinguished by their word for "yes".

In his bookAboriginal Tribes of Australia(1974),Norman Tindalewrote thatWiradjuriwas one of several terms coined later, after the 1890s had seen a "rash of such terms", following the publication of a work by ethnologistJohn Fraser.In 1892, Fraser had published a revised and expanded edition[5]ofLancelot Threlkeld's 1834 work on the Awabakal language,An Australian Grammar,[6]in which he created his own names for groupings, such as Yunggai, Wachigari and Yakkajari.[5]

Tindale says that some of the later terms had entered the literature, although not based on fieldwork and lacking Aboriginal support, as artificial, collective names for his "Great Tribes" of New South Wales. He writes that there was such a "literary need for major groupings that [Fraser] set out to provide them for New South Wales, coining entirely artificial terms for his 'Great tribes'. These were not based on field research and lacked aboriginal support. His names such as Yunggai, Wachigari and Yakkajari can be ignored as artifacts...During the 1890s the idea spread and soon there was a rash of such terms...Some of these have entered, unfortunately, into popular literature, despite their dubious origins."[7]

He lists Wiradjuri (NSW) as one of these artificial names, along with Bangarang[a](Pangerang) (Vic.);Booandik(Vic. & SA); Barkunjee (Barkindji) (NSW),Kurnai(Vic.), Thurrawal (Dharawal) (NSW), and Malegoondeet (?) (Vic.).[7][8]He also mentionsR. H. Mathews,A. W. HowittandJohn Mathewas promulgators of the "nations" concept. However, Tindale refers to Wiradjuri in his own work (p. 200): "Wiradjuri 'Wiradjuri (Wi'raduri)".[7][8]

Wiradjuri language[edit]

Main article:Wiradjuri language

Wiradjuriis aPama–Nyungan familyand classified as a member of the smallWiradhuric branch of Australian languagesof Central New South Wales.[9]

The Wiradjuri language is effectively extinct, but attempts are underway to revive it, with a reconstructed grammar, based on earlier ethnographic materials and wordlists and the memories of Wiradjuri families, which is now used to teach the language in schools.[10]This reclamation work was originally propelled by elderStan GrantandJohn Rudderwho had previously studiedAustralian Aboriginal languagesinArnhem Land.[11][12]

Country[edit]

The Wiradjuri are the largest Aboriginal group in New South Wales. They once occupied a vast area in central New South Wales, on the plains running north and south to the west of theBlue Mountains.The area was known as "the land of the three rivers",[13]theWambuul(Macquarie),theKalarelater known as theLachlanand theMurrumbidgee,orMurrumbidjeri.[14]

Norman Tindaleestimated the territorial range of the Wiradjuri tribal lands at 127,000 km2(49,000 sq mi). Their eastern borders ran from north to south from aboveMudgee,down to the foothills of the Blue Mountains east ofLithgowandOberon,and east ofCowra,YoungandTumutand south to theupper MurrayatAlburyand east to aboutTumbarumba.The southern border ran toHowlong.Its western reaches went alongBillabong Creekto beyondMossgiel.They extended southwest to the vicinity ofHayandNarrandera.Condobolinsouthwards toBooligal,Carrathool,Wagga Wagga,Cootamundra,Parkes,Trundle;Gundagai,Boorowa,andRylstone,Wellington,andCarcoarall lay within Wiradjuri territory.[1]

TheMurray Riverforms the Wiradjuri's southern boundary and the change from woodland to open grassland marks their eastern boundary.[citation needed]

Social organisation[edit]

The Wiradjuri were organised into bands.Norman TindalequotesAlfred William Howittas mentioning several of these local groups of the tribe:

  • Narrandera(prickly lizard)
  • Cootamundra(kuta-mundra,kutamun turtle)
  • Murranbulla(maring-bula,two bark canoes).[1]

Burial rite[edit]

The Wiradjuri, together with theGamilaraay(who however used them inbora ceremonies), were particularly known for their use of carved trees which functioned astaphoglyphs,[15]marking the burial site of a notable medicine-man, ceremonial leader, warrior or orator of a tribe. On the death of a distinguished Wiradjuri, initiated men would strip the bark off a tree to allow them to incise symbols on the side of the trunk which faced theburial mound.The craftsmanship on remaining examples of this funeral artwork displays notable artistic power. Four still stand nearMolongat theGrave of Yuranigh.

They are generally to be found near rivers where the softer earth allowed easier burial.[16]Alfred William Howittremarked that these trees incised with taphoglyphs served both as transit points to allowmythological cultural heroesto ascend to, and descend from, the firmament as well as a means for the deceased to return to the sky.[15]

Lifestyle[edit]

The Wiradjuri diet includedyabbiesand fish such asMurray codfrom the rivers. In dry seasons, they ate kangaroos, emus and food gathered from the land, including fruit, nuts, yam daisies (Microseris lanceolata), wattle seeds, and orchid tubers. The Wiradjuri travelled intoAlpine areasin the summer to feast onBogong moths.[17]

The Wiradjuri were also known for their handsomepossum-skin cloaksstitched together from several possum furs.Governor Macquariewas presented with one of these cloaks by a Wiradjuri man when he visited Bathurst in 1815.[2]

British penetration[edit]

Wiradjuri territory was first penetrated byBritishcolonists in 1813.[13]In 1822George Suttortook up an extensive lot of land, later known as Brucedale Station, after Wiradjuri guides showed him an area with ample water sources. Suttor learnt their language, and befriendedWindradyne, nicknamed "Saturday",and attributed conflict to the harshness of his own people's behaviour, since the Wiradjuri were in his view, fond of white people, as they would call them.[18]Clashes between the British settlers and the Wiradjuri however multiplied as the influx of colonist increased, and became known as theBathurst Wars.The occupation of their lands and their cultivation began to cause famine among the Wiradjuri, who had a different notion of what constituted property.[b]In the 1850s there were stillcorroboreesaroundMudgee,but there were fewer clashes.

Notable people[edit]

Historical[edit]

Modern[edit]

Music/the arts[edit]

Sporting[edit]

Rugby League[edit]

Australian rules football[edit]

Other sports[edit]

Places of significance[edit]

Wiradjuri culture in fiction[edit]

The short storyDeath in the Dawntime,originally published inThe Mammoth Book of Historical Detectives(Mike Ashley, editor; 1995), is amurder mysterythat takes place entirely among the Wiradjuri people before the arrival of Europeans in Australia.[40]

InBryce Courtenay's novelJessica,the plot is centred in Wiradjuri region. Jessica's best friend (Mary Simpson) was from Wiradjuri.[41]

Noel Beddoe's novelThe Yalda Crossing[42]also explores Wiradjuri history from an early settler perspective, bringing to life a little-known massacre that occurred in the 1830s.[43]Andy Kissane's poem, "The Station Owner's Daughter, Narrandera" tells a story about the aftermath of that same massacre,[44]and was the inspiration for Alex Ryan's short film,Ngurrumbang.[45]

Alternative names[edit]

The variety of spellings for the name Wiradjuri is extensive, with over 60 ways of transcribing the word registered.[46]

Some words[edit]

  • guwandhaang'native peach'. The English word for this in Australia,quandong,is thought to derive from the Wirandjuri term.[47]
  • wagga'crow'. The Wiradjeri term perhaps lies behind the toponym for the town ofWagga Wagga.The reduplication may be a pluralizer suggesting the idea of "(place of) many crows". This has recently been questioned by Wiradjuri elder Stan Grant Sr and Tim Wess, an academic. The word behind thetoponymis, they claim,waga,meaning "dance", and the reduplicative would mean "many dances/much dancing".[48]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^R. H. Mathews' spelling
  2. ^Suttor wrote: "These natives have some imperfect ideas of property, and the right of possession. They say all wild animals are theirs - the tame or cultivated ones are ours. Whatever springs spontaneously from the earth or without labour is theirs also. Things produced by art and labour, are the white fellows' as they call us." (Langton 2010,p. 37)

Citations[edit]

  1. ^abcTindale 1974,p. 201.
  2. ^abLangton 2010,p. 33.
  3. ^Donaldson 1984,p. 26.
  4. ^Thieberger & McGregor 1994,pp. 79–80.
  5. ^abRidley et al. 1892,pp. ix–x, +.
  6. ^Threlkeld et al. 2008.
  7. ^abcTindale & Jones 1974,pp. 156, 191, 200.
  8. ^abTindale 1974.
  9. ^Dixon 2002,p. xxxiv.
  10. ^McNaboe & Poetsch 2010,pp. 216–224.
  11. ^Rudder & Grant 2005.
  12. ^Rudder & Grant 2010.
  13. ^abLangton 2010,p. 32.
  14. ^Bamblett 2013,p. 40.
  15. ^abMcCarthy 1940,pp. 161–166.
  16. ^McCarthy 1940,p. 161.
  17. ^Warrant et al. 2016,p. 77.
  18. ^Langton 2010,pp. 35–36.
  19. ^Pearce 2016.
  20. ^Innes 2016.
  21. ^AoY.
  22. ^"Addo-Carr on track for NRL debut".NRL.com. 19 February 2016.Retrieved17 April2016.
  23. ^abcdefghijklm"NRL 2020 Indigenous Player map"(PDF).
  24. ^Indigenous Sport Month: Time for footy codes to create opportunity for Indigenous coachesby Jamie Pandaram and Lauren Wood for CodeSports 22 May 2023
  25. ^"Addo-Carr, Hynes and Lee on Indigenous Round".Melbourne Storm.30 July 2020.Retrieved13 August2021.
  26. ^Bruce, Jasper (23 April 2021)."Latrell 'a leader in fight against racism'".The Australian.Retrieved6 May2023.
  27. ^"Remembering Ron Saddler: New South Wales' First Indigenous Captain".Sydney Roosters.18 May 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 25 July 2023.Retrieved25 July2023.
  28. ^Rikki-Lee Arnold (18 May 2018)."Broncos young gun Kotoni Staggs to make NRL debut against Sydney Roosters".The Courier Mail.Retrieved28 December2021.
  29. ^https://deadlychoices.com.au/ambassadors/willies-deadly-choice-is-to-drink-plenty-of-water-and-stay-hydrated/Willie Tonga: Former rugby league player. Retrieved: 2 Feb 2024
  30. ^Helmers, Caden (7 February 2017)."Canberra Raiders prop Junior Paulo suspended from round one of the NRL season".The Canberra Times.
  31. ^ab"AFLPA indigenous player map 2017"(PDF).
  32. ^Shirkie, Daniel (16 April 2019)."'One of the best': Wellington boxing royalty Wally Carr passes away ".Wellington Times.Retrieved18 April2019.
  33. ^English, Peter (30 April 2010)."The man from Narrandera".CricInfo.Retrieved30 April2010.
  34. ^Dee Jefferson (4 September 2019)."Tennis champion Evonne Goolagong Cawley celebrated in new Australian play".ABC News.
  35. ^Skene, Patrick (14 July 2016)."The forgotten story of... John Kinsela, the first Aboriginal Olympic wrestler".The Guardian (Australia).Retrieved15 July2016.
  36. ^Ali Almond (3 September 2022)."UFC 209: Tai Tuivasa's Samoan tattoo journey one of worst, and best, experiences of his life".ABC News.
  37. ^GoNSW 1996a.
  38. ^Office of Environment and Heritage.
  39. ^abGoNSW 1996b.
  40. ^MacIntyre 2001,p. 139.
  41. ^Courtenay 2000.
  42. ^Beddoe 2012.
  43. ^Wilson 2012.
  44. ^Kissane 1999,pp. 42–43.
  45. ^Ngurrumbang 2013.
  46. ^Thieberger & McGregor 1994,p. 80.
  47. ^Clarke 2008,p. 53.
  48. ^Owen 2016.

Sources[edit]

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