The Ritharrngu (Ritharrŋu, Ritharngu) and also known as the Diakui (and variant spellings), are an

Aboriginal Australian Aboriginal Australians are the various Indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and many of its islands, such as Tasmania, Fraser Island, Hinchinbrook Island, the Tiwi Islands, and Groote Eylandt, but excluding the Torres Strait Islands ...

people of

Arnhem Land Arnhem Land is a historical region of the Northern Territory of Australia, with the term still in use. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around from the territory capital, Darwin. In 1623, Dutch East India Compan ...

in the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...

, of the

Yolŋu The Yolngu or Yolŋu () are an aggregation of Aboriginal Australian people inhabiting north-eastern Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. ''Yolngu'' means "person" in the Yolŋu languages. The terms Murngin, Wulamba, Yalnumata, M ...

group of peoples. Their clans are Wagilak and Manggura (of the Dhuwa

moiety Moiety may refer to: Chemistry * Moiety (chemistry), a part or functional group of a molecule ** Moiety conservation, conservation of a subgroup in a chemical species Anthropology * Moiety (kinship), either of two groups into which a society is ...

), and Ritharrŋu (of the Yirritja moiety).

Language

The Ritharrŋu language is a

Yolŋu Matha The Yolngu or Yolŋu () are an aggregation of Aboriginal Australian people inhabiting north-eastern Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. ''Yolngu'' means "person" in the Yolŋu languages. The terms Murngin, Wulamba, Yalnumata, M ...

language. In modern times Ritharrŋu has been observed to be undergoing significant structural changes away from Yolŋu, with innovations in its morphosyntaxis through assimilation of features characteristic of Nunggubuyu and Ŋandi.

Country

The Ritharrŋu are estimated to have landed estates extending over approximately east and south of the

Arafura Swamp The Arafura Swamp is a large inland freshwater wetland in Arnhem Land, in the Top End of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is a near pristine floodplain with an area of that may expand to by the end of the wet season, making it the largest ...

. They also inhabit the area east of the

Goyder River The Goyder River is a river in the Northern Territory, Australia. Description The headwaters of the river rise at the base of the Mitchell Ranges and are fed by spring discharge from an extensive dolomite aquifer that supports areas of rainf ...

, whose tributaries' headwaters form their southernmost frontier. They also inhabit the area around the

Mitchell Ranges Mitchell Ranges are a mountain range in Arnhem Land located approximately east of Darwin in the Northern Territory, of Australia. The Range is approximately long running from north to south with a width of approximately . Several peaks are foun ...

and the

Koolatong River The Koolatong River is a river in the Northern Territory, Australia. Rising in the Mitchell Ranges the river initially flows north then turns east across the uninhabited plains eventually discharging into the Saint Nicholas Inlet and the Blue ...

headwaters. Wagilak are amongst the clans living at Ŋukurr (formerly Roper River Mission).

Social organisation

The Ritharrŋu are organised into three clans, two pertaining to the Dhuwa moiety and one to the Yirritja moiety of the Yolŋu people. Dhuwa moieties. * 1. ''Wagilak.'' (Wagelag, Wawilak, Waurilak, Nunydjulpi, Nundjulpi, Nundjulbi) * 2. ''Manggura.'' (Manggurra). Yirritja moiety. * 3. ''Ritarngu.'' (Ritarungo, Ritharrngu, Ridarngo, Ritaringo, Rittarungo, Ritharingau, Ridarngu, Buranadjini).

Alternative names

* ''Dhiyakuy'' * ''Dijogoi'' * ''Djikai, Jikai, Tchikai'' Source:

Notable people

At Ŋukurr: * Artist Djambu "Sambo" Burra Burra (born c.1946) * Artist Amy Jirwulurr Johnson (wife of Burra Burra)

Notes

Citations

Sources

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