Wanggamala Explained

Wanggamala should not be confused with Wanggumara.

The Wanggamala people, also spelt Wangkamahdla, Wangkamadla, Wangkamanha, Wangkamana, Wonkamala, Wongkamala, Wonkamudla, and other variants, are an Aboriginal Australian people of the Northern Territory and Queensland.

Country

In Norman Tindale's estimate, Wanggamala tribal lands covered some 20000mi2 of territory. They roamed north-west of Annandale, at Kalidawarry and around the lower Field and Hay rivers, along the Plenty river, and on the eastern margins of the Simpson Desert. River waters were ephemeral and they dug native wells (mikari).

In July 2021, the Wanggamala people, spelt Wangkamahdla in the claim, won native title rights to over west and south-west of Boulia, stretching from around Bedourie, Queensland, across to the Northern Territory border, including Cravens Peak Reserve (named Pilungah Reserve in October 2021^[1]) and part of the Munga-Thirri National Park.^[2]

Language

See main article: Wanggamala language. Their language was Wanggamala, which is now extinct.

Economy

The Wanggamala lived in areas where the native tobacco pituri grows and, aside from using it themselves, they employed it as a valuable trading resource.

Alternative names

• Tharlimanha (Breen 2007)
• Wanggamala (AIATSIS and Ethnologue)
• Wanggamanha
• Wangkamadla^{[3] [1]}
• Wangkamahdla^[2]
• Wangkamala
• Wangkamana (Horton, after Tindale;^[4] Blake & Breen 1971)
• Wangkamanha
• Wonggaman (AIAS)
• Wonggawan
• Wongkamala (Tindale)
• Wonkamala (Tindale 1974)
• Wonkamudla(Tindale 1974; O'Grady et al 1996; Mathews)

Notes

Citations

Sources

• Web site: Map of Indigenous Australia . . David R. . Horton . 1996 . David Horton (writer) . .
• Book: Howitt, Alfred William . The native tribes of south-east Australia . 1904 . Alfred William Howitt . .
• Legends of the Dieri and Kindred Tribes of Central Australia . Howitt . Alfred William . Siebert . Otto . Alfred William Howitt . . Adelaide . January–June 1904 . 34 . 100–129 . 10.2307/2843089 . 2843089.
• Divisions of the South Australian Aborigines . Mathews . R. H. . Robert Hamilton Mathews . . January 1900a . 39 . 161 . 78–91+93 . 983545.
• Phallic Rites and Initiation Ceremonies of the South Australian Aborigines . Mathews . R. H. . Robert Hamilton Mathews . . October–December 1900b . 39 . 164 . 622–638 . 983778.
• Book: Tindale, Norman Barnett . Wongkamala (NT) . 1974 . Norman Tindale . Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names . . http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/wongkamala.htm . 978-0-708-10741-6.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Barry . Derek . Boulia's Cravens Peak is renamed Pilungah . . 15 October 2021 . 15 October 2021.
2. Web site: Wangkamahdla People celebrate Queensland Native Title ruling . . 15 July 2021 . 15 October 2021.
3. Web site: Introducing Pilungah Reserve . Bush Heritage Australia . 14 Oct 2021. Amelia . Caddy. 15 October 2021.
4. Web site: Map of Indigenous Australia . AIATSIS. David R.. Horton. 1996 . David Horton (writer).