Warlpiri people
The Warlpiri, sometimes referred to as Yapa, are a group of Aboriginal Australians defined by their Warlpiri language, although not all still speak it. There are 5,000–6,000 Warlpiri, living mostly in a few towns and settlements scattered through their traditional land in the Northern Territory, north and west of Alice Springs. About 3,000 still speak the Warlpiri language. The word "Warlpiri" has also been romanised as Walpiri, Walbiri, Elpira, Ilpara, and Wailbri.
Language
The
The closest relative to Warlpiri is
Thus a sentence like ga (present tense) na (1) jani (am going) (2) jadidjara (3) (the north) gura (4) (towards binga (a long way)(5)-dju. (6) (emphatic)
Can be said with the same syntax, in gestures: '(1)touch chest/(2) move right index finger/(3)point north/(4)with lips/(5)click fingers (6)towards north.[7]
Kenneth Hale, an American linguist, mastered Warlpiri and was adopted by the tribe, who knew him as Jabanungga. On returning to the United States, he raised his twin sons, Caleb and Ezra, in the Warlpiri tongue, and Ezra delivered the eulogy at Hale's funeral in that language.[8]
Country
Warlpiri country is located in the
Warlpiri traditional territory was resource-poor to white eyes, and lay a considerable distance away from the main
Joint land claim
On 21 August 1980 a land claim was submitted by 90 claimants on behalf of the Warlpiri,
History of contact and study
The arts
Warlpiri are known for their traditional dances and have given performances at major events.[18][19] Singing and dancing are also used in Warlpir culture for turning boys into men, curing sicknesses, childbirth, attacking enemies, and ensuring fertility.[20] The Warlpiri also have many different religious ceremonies and events where they sing and dance.
Many Indigenous artists, particularly in the Papunya Tula organisation, are of Warlpiri descent. Warnayaka Art, in Lajamanu, Northern Territory, is owned by the artists, who create works across a range of traditional and contemporary art media. A small gallery displays the art, and some of the artists have been finalists in the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award.[21] In the past, Warlpiri artwork was created on wood and sand.[22] Then later, the artwork was made on the body of Warlpiri people. Today the art is used in galleries to pass down tradition and laws to the next generation of the Warlpiri people.
Kinship
Matrimoiety 1 (M1) | Matrimoiety 2 (M2) | ||||||
M1a | M1b | M1c | M1d | M2a | M2b | M2c | M2d |
P1a | P2a | P3a | P4a | P1b | P2b | P3b | P4b |
Semi-patrimoiety 1 (P1) | Semi-patrimoiety 2 (P2) | Semi-patrimoiety 3 (P3) | Semi-patrimoiety 4 (P4) | ||||
P1a | P1b | P2a | P2b | P3a | P3b | P4a | P4b |
M1a | M2a | M1b | M2b | M1c | M2c | M1d | M2d |
Warlpiris divide their relatives, and by extension the entire population, into eight named groups or subsections. These subsections are related to kinship, and determine one's family rights and obligations. The following is a brief sketch of how the subsection system relates to genealogy.
The subsections are divided into four semi-patrimoieties, each consisting of two subsections. One always belongs to the same semi-patrimoiety as one's father, but to the opposite subsection, so that men in a
The subsections are also divided into two matrimoieties, each consisting of four subsections. One always belongs to the same matrimoiety as one's mother, and women in a
The two subsections in a semi-patrimoiety always belong to opposite matrimoieties, and similarly, the four subsections of each matrimoiety are distributed among the four semi-patrimoieties. Each subsection is uniquely determined by which semi-patrimoiety and which matrimoiety it belongs to.
Female lines of descent in the two matrimoieties cycle through the semi-patrimoieties in opposite directions. The result is that one's mother's father's mother's father (MFMF) is of the same subsection as oneself.
Siblings always belong to the same subsection.
It follows from these rules that one must choose one's spouse from a particular subsection, and traditional Warlpiri disapprove of marriages that break this constraint. The correct subsection to marry from is that of one's maternal grandfather (though of course one seeks a spouse closer to one's own age).
The subsection system underlies all of traditional Warlpiri society, determining how Warlpiris address and regard each other. Two members of the same subsection refer to each other as siblings, whether or not they actually have the same parent. Men in the same subsection as one's father (for example, one's father's male siblings) are called "father", and this practice is often followed even when Warlpiris speak English. In the same way, most of the kinship terms in the Warlpiri language actually refer to subsection (or classificatory) relationships, not to literal genetic relationships.
Traditionally, the first thing one Warlpiri wants to know about another is their subsection. Warlpiris often address each other by subsection name rather than by personal name, and incorporate their subsection name into their English one, usually as a middle name. When Warlpiris marry Europeans, they tend to extend the subsection system to their inlaws, starting with the assumption that the European spouse is of the correct subsection. Rather distant European relatives may find themselves classified as honorary uncles, nieces, grandparents, and so on. Warlpiris will then try to make sure that further marriages with related Europeans will adhere to the marriage constraint.
The traditional taboo against familiarity between a man and his mother-in-law extends automatically to any man and woman whose subsections are those of man and mother-in-law.
The subsection system automatically prevents incest between siblings and any relatives closer than cousins. Cousins that are children of classificatory siblings (who may, by definition, also happen to be true siblings) of the same sex are themselves classificatory siblings, and may not marry; but children of classificatory siblings of the opposite sex are of the appropriate subsections for marriage, and marriage between so-called cross cousins is actually encouraged in traditional society. Where a couple are not merely classificatory cross-cousins but are true cross-cousins (i.e. their parents are actual siblings), marriage is generally frowned upon.
The eight subsections are interrelated in a pattern known in group theory as the order 8 dihedral group, D4.
If a Warlpiri has a second choice marriage, then any children they have take on two skin names: first, the skin name they would have adopted had the marriage been first choice; second, the skin name the second choice marriage implied. When asked what their skin name is, they often reply with the former, but may also additionally use the latter. (Observation made from a discussion with a young 'Japananga-Jupurulla'.)
In Warlpiri culture, widows are not forced to remarry and are a very important part of society.[23]
Employment
The Warlpiri people have had a hard time paying taxes much like other Indigenous people in Australia. The Australian Government created training programs in the early 2000s, originally to help the economy and prevent welfare-dependent Indigenous people; however, this had the effect of separating them from their culture.[24]
The Warlpiri are known for their self-reliance and their close-knit society. They have their own radio show that not only connects the widely dispersed people, but connects them to the outside world, and allows the youth and women to have a voice.[25]
The Warlpiri also now work with the U.S. based
Notable people
- Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (born 1981), Senator for the Northern Territory representing the Country Liberal Party.
- Bess Price (born 1960), Indigenous activist and supporter of the Northern Territory Intervention.
- Liam Jurrah (born 1988), Australian rules footballer for Australian Football League (AFL) club Melbourne.
- Gold Coast.
- Dorothy Napangardi (1950s–2013), artist
- Rosie Nangala Fleming (born 1928), artist
- Alma Nungarrayi Granites (1955-2017), artist
- Kumanjayi Walker (2000-2019), resident of Yuendumuwho became subject of national and international news after his killing by police officer Zachary Rolfe, who was acquitted of murder in 2022
Alternative names
- Albura (Yankuntjatjarraexonym)
- Alpira, Elpira, Alpiri (Iliauraexonym)
- Ilpir(r)a
- Ilpira (exonym)
- Ilpirra, Ulperra, Ilpara (Aranda exonym)
- Nambulatji (Ngalia exonym)
- Njambalatji (Djaruexonym)
- Wailbri (post-1945 European schooling orthography)
- Walbiri, Waljpiri, Waljbiri, Walpari, Wolperi
- Walbrai
- Walbri, Wolpirra, Warrabri
- Walmala
- Walmanba
- Wanaeka (Ngardi exonym)
- Wanajaga
- Wanajaka/Wanajeka (Djaru exonym)
- Waneiga
- Waringari(exonym insinuating they are cannibals)
Source: Tindale 1974, p. 237
Notes
- ^ yapa means 'black Aboriginal person' now, as opposed to kardiya, white man.
Citations
- ^ a b Hoogenraad 2009, p. 1165.
- ^ Napaljarri & Cataldi 2003, p. xx.
- ^ Yuendumu 2015.
- ^ a b Simpson 2012, p. xvi.
- ^ O'Shannessy 2005, pp. 31–57.
- ^ Kendon 1988, p. 94.
- ^ Meggitt 1954, p. 3.
- ^ Baarda 2012, p. 36.
- ^ Tindale 1974.
- ^ Kendon 1988, p. 81.
- ^ CLC 1987.
- ^ Kearney 1986.
- ^ Beckett 2002, p. 116.
- ^ Bell 2002, p. xi.
- ^ Campbell 2006.
- ^ Dussart 2000.
- ^ Poirier 2002, pp. 273–275.
- ^ National Indigenous Times 2016.
- ^ Brooks 2016.
- ^ Peterson n.d.
- ^ Warnayaka n.d.
- ^ Lajamu history n.d.
- ^ Dussart 1992, p. 337.
- ^ Lawrence 2005, pp. 40–48.
- ^ Hinkson 2004, pp. 143–162.
- ^ Warlpiri & Newmont Mining.
Sources
- Baarda, Frank (4 April 2012). "Language learning in Indigenous communities" (PDF). Hansard House of Representatives: 36.
- Beckett, Jeremy (April 2002). "Mervyn Meggitt, 1924–2004". .
- ISBN 978-1-876-75615-4.
- Brooks, Sally (16 October 2016). "Warlpiri people unite under desert skies for epic Indigenous dance performance". ABC News. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- Campbell, Liam (2006). Darby: One hundred years of life in a changing culture. ISBN 978-0-733-31925-9.
- Dussart, Francoise (1992). "The Politics of Female Identity: Warlpiri Widows at Yuendumu". Ethnology. 31 (4): 337–350. S2CID 141446403.
- ISBN 978-1-560-98393-4.
- Hinkson, Melinda (August 2004). "What's in a Dedication? On Being a Warlpiri DJ". The Australian Journal of Anthropology. 15 (2): 143–162. S2CID 162135301.
- "History in Lajamanu, Northern Territory". n.d. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- Holmes, Pamela (2008). "Dignity through change: how continence matters". Working with Older People. 12 (2): 23–25. ISSN 1366-3666.
- Hoogenraad, R. (2009). "Walpiri". In Brown, Keith; Ogilvie, Sarah (eds.). Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World. ISBN 978-0-080-87775-4.
- Kearney, William J. (19 August 1986). Warlpiri Kukatja and Ngarti land claim: Report by Aboriginal Land Commissioner. Parliamentary Paper No. 191/1986. The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. ISBN 978-0-644-04273-4 – via Trove.
- Kendon, Adam (1988). Sign Languages of Aboriginal Australia. ISBN 978-0-521-36008-1.
- Lawrence, Rebecca (2005). "Governing Warlpiri Subjects: Indigenous Employment and Training Programs in the Central Australian Mining Industry". Geographical Research. 43 (1): 40–48. ISSN 1745-5863.
- JSTOR 40328952.
- Napaljarri, Peggy Rockman; ISBN 978-0-761-98992-9.
- O'Shannessy, Carmel (April 2005). "Light Warlpiri: A New Language". S2CID 62594617.
- Peterson, Nicolas (n.d.). "Warlpiri". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- Poirier, Sylvie (2002). "Review of Dussart 2000" (PDF). Anthropologie et Sociétés. 26 (2/3): 273–275. doi:10.7202/007067ar.
- Simpson, J. (2012). Warlpiri Morpho-Syntax: A Lexicalist Approach. ISBN 978-9-401-13204-6.
- ISBN 978-0-708-10741-6.
- "Warlpiri dancers to showcase Australia's common ground". National Indigenous Times. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- "The Warlpiri People and Newmont Mining". Austrade. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- "Warlpiri, Kukatja and Ngarti Land Claim". Central Land Council. March 1987. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
[From] Land Rights News Vol 2, No 2, March 1987
- "Warnayaka Aboriginal Art Gallery, Australian Art At Its Best". Warnayaka. n.d. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- "Yuendumu Community". Whole of Community Engagement Initiative. 2015.
Further reading
- Nash, David (25 March 2020). "Warlpiri: Warlpiri bibliography". Australian National University.
- Nash, David (17 June 2020). "Warlpiri motion pictures and multimedia". Australian National University.
- Pawu-Kurlpurlurnu, Wanta Jampijinpa (aka Steven Jampijinpa Patrick); Holmes, Miles; Box, Lance Alan (2008). Ngurra-kurlu: A way of working with Warlpiri people (PDF). Report 41. Desert Knowledge CRC. ISSN 1832-6684.
Ngurra-kurlu is a representation of the five key elements of Warlpiri culture: Land (also called Country), Law, Language, Ceremony, and Skin (also called Kinship).