The Kurrama people, also known as the Puutu Kunti Kurrama people, 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 Isl ...

people from the

Pilbara The Pilbara () is a large, dry, thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Aboriginal peoples; its ancient landscapes; the red earth; and its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore. It is also a g ...

region of

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

. The Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura peoples, although of different language groups, are represented by the PKKP Aboriginal Corporation in the administration of their traditional lands.

Language

The Kurrama language is a member of the Ngayarta group of the Pama–Nyungan language family, and is closely related to Yinjtjiparnti. The language is

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and in ...

, with only an estimated 10 speakers remaining (2002).

Country

Norman Tindale Norman Barnett Tindale AO (12 October 1900 – 19 November 1993) was an Australian anthropologist, archaeologist, entomologist and ethnologist. Life Tindale was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1900. His family moved to Tokyo and lived ther ...

estimated the extent of their lands as covering . Their eastern boundaries were around Mount McCrae, while the southern limits touched the headwaters of Duck Creek and the upper Hardey River at Rocklea. The land includes much of the higher

plateau In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ...

s of the

Hamersley Range The Hamersley Range is a mountainous region of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The range was named on 12 June 1861 by explorer Francis Thomas Gregory after Edward Hamersley, a prominent promoter of his exploration expedition to the n ...

in the

region of Western Australia.

Native title

The Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura, who are two separate but related peoples, lodged a joint claim for recognition for each of their own countries as well as a shared area. Their rights to lands and waters covering around of an area between Onslow and Tom Price (though not reaching either place), were recognised on 2 December 2015, in the ''#1 and #2 v State of Western Australia'' decision. The PKKP Aboriginal Corporation is the representative body administering the lands for both peoples.

Social organisation

Kurrama initiation required youths to undergo both

circumcision Circumcision is a procedure that removes the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common form of the operation, the foreskin is extended with forceps, then a circumcision device may be placed, after which the foreskin is excised. Top ...

and

subincision Penile subincision is a form of genital modification or mutilation The terms genital modification and genital mutilation can refer to permanent or temporary changes to human sex organs. Some forms of genital alteration are performed on adults w ...

. Although each group is distinct, the Kurruma and Pinikura peoples observe common

laws Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vari ...

and customs, and share and protect much of the same land and resources.

Alternative names and spellings

* ''Jawunmara'' ( Yindjibarndi

exonym An endonym (from Greek: , 'inner' + , 'name'; also known as autonym) is a common, ''native'' name for a geographical place, group of people, individual person, language or dialect, meaning that it is used inside that particular place, group, ...

) * ''Gurama'' * ''Kerama, Karama, Korama'' * ''Jana:ri''

Juukan Gorge destruction

The Puutu Kunti Kurrama people, in alliance with the Pinikura in a group abbreviated as PKKP, were distressed by the destruction of a sacred and heritage site in the form of a cave in Juukan Gorge by mining giant

Rio Tinto Rio Tinto, meaning "red river", may refer to: Businesses * Rio Tinto (corporation), an Anglo-Australian multinational mining and resources corporation ** Rio Tinto Alcan, based in Canada ** Rio Tinto Borax in America *** Rio Tinto Borax Mine, ...

in May 2020.

Notes

Citations

Sources

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map
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External links

* {{Authority control Aboriginal peoples of Western Australia Pilbara