The Yambina were an Aboriginal Australian people of the state of Queensland, whose traditional lands lie inland (westwards) some distance from Mackay.

Map of traditional lands of Australian Aboriginal peoples in central Queensland.

Country edit

Yambina lands included Logan Creek south of Avon Downs. They ran east to the Denham Range and Logan Downs. The western extension lay around the area of Elgin Downs. They were also present at Solferino. Norman Tindale estimated their territory as circumscribing about 6,500 square kilometres (2,500 sq mi).[1]

Social organisation edit

The marriage rules governing the Yambina were set forth by Wilson and Murray, who discerned two classes, the Youngaroo and the Wootharoo.[2]

History of contact edit

Within a few decades of white settlement, it was estimated that the Yambina numbered 100.[3]

Language edit

The language of the Yambina people was Yambina, considered a dialect of the Biri language. No speakers of the language have been recorded since before 1975.[4]

Alternative names edit

AIATSIS' AUSTLANG lists:[4]

  • Jambina
  • Jampa:l
  • Jampal
  • Muthoburra
  • Mutholburra
  • Narboo Murre
  • Yambeena

Some words edit

  • wanday (tame dog)
  • marrara or mowara (wild dog)
  • yabboo (father)
  • younga (nerra) (mother)
  • meekooloo (whiteman)[5]

Notes edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Tindale 1974, p. 169.
  2. ^ Wilson & Murray 1887, p. 65.
  3. ^ Wilson & Murray 1887, p. 64.
  4. ^ a b E51 Yambina at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  5. ^ Wilson & Murray 1887, p. 68.

Sources edit

  • "AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia". AIATSIS.
  • Muirhead, James (1887). "Belyando" (PDF). In Curr, Edward Micklethwaite (ed.). The Australian race: its origin, languages, customs, place of landing in Australia and the routes by which it spread itself over the continent. Vol. 3. Melbourne: J. Ferres. pp. 26–33.
  • Tindale, Norman Barnett (1974). "Jambina (QLD)". Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names. Australian National University Press. ISBN 978-0-708-10741-6.
  • Wilson, Samuel; Murray, T. (1887). "Peak Downs District, Logan Downs Station." (PDF). In Curr, Edward Micklethwaite (ed.). The Australian race: its origin, languages, customs, place of landing in Australia and the routes by which it spread itself over the continent. Vol. 3. Melbourne: J. Ferres. pp. 64–69.