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, ...
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. 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 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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Further reading
*
Selected bibliography of the Wagilak / Wawilak language and people held in the AIATSIS Library
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Yolngu