Djerimanga
The Djerimanga, also known as the Wulna, are an indigenous Australian people of the Northern Territory.
Country
Djerimanga country consisted of some 1,200 square miles (3,100 km2) on the coastal plain where the Adelaide River debouches into the Timor Sea, north to the tip of Cape Hotham, west to Fogg Dam, south to an area including the community at Acacia Larrakia and eastwards as far as the Mary River floodplains. Humpty Doo Station, Koolpinyah Station and Djukbinj National Park are also situated within these traditional boundaries. Historically, the Djerimanga had a southern inland extension of their land as far as the Margaret River and the Ringwood Range, but lost it to the eastern Djowei.[1]
Families
Today Wulna descendants are contained to three distinct family groups; Browne, Talbot and Kenyon. The matriarchs of these families are Nancy Browne (née Moo) (dec), her younger sister Lorna Talbot (née Lee) (dec) and J.Kenyon (dec).
Nancy and Lorna were the daughters of Topsy Garamanak (1900-1974), the senior Larrakia/Wulna ceremony woman who conducted ceremony across the Top End. Topsy was the daughter of Larrakia ancestor Blanchie and Wulna ancestor Finity (Pinity) Yunupingu, who had direct family links to the Yunupingu clan from Yirrkala, Northern Territory. Descendants of Nancy Browne and Lorna Talbot are Larrakia/Wulna.
J.Kenyon born 1944 in Humpty Doo, is the daughter of Hilda Gunmanga (born 1910). Hilda was also the daughter of Blanchie and Finity. Hilda Is the youngest daughter of Blanchie and Finity. Hildas daughter J. Kenyon married Tony Kenyon making their descendants of Limilngan, Wulna & Warai. The descendants still live on country and provide "welcome to country" for events, schools, meetings etc. The Kenyon Family is the most activity family group living on and maintaining country.
Fogg Dam and Humpty Doo Station has always been under management of the Kenyon Family. The Kenyon family always have to remind neighbouring tribes of the boundary of Wulna Country which starts from Coolalinga region and expands out to Fogg dam, Harrison Dam and further. Constantly the Larrakia Tribe will try to move in but with cultural laws & NLC other Clans are reminded of the boarders.
Wulna Country is a Matriarch, Therefore Women of the Wulna clan should only be speaking for country. Wulna T/O's(Traditional Owners) who are women must speak for this country. One of the most important sites is the story of Ludawei The Long Neck Turtle Dreaming Track. The Ludawei story can be found at Windows on the Wetlands (Now Closed) & Fogg Dam Reserve's last rotunda viewing platform. Each year a meeting is held to discuss the joint management with Parks and Wildlife, Northern Land Council and scared sites, During this meeting any land management or cultural issues are raised with the T/O's.
Alternative names
- Djeramanga, Jermangel
- Waak
- Wulna, Woolna (toponym), Woolnah, Woolner, Wulnar, Wolna
Source: Tindale 1974, p. 224
Sources
- Ford, Lysbeth Julie (1998). A description of the Emmi language of the Northern Territory of Australia (PDF) (Doctoral thesis). Australian National University.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Tindale, Norman Barnett (1974). "Djerimanga (NT)". Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names. Australian National University.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)