ABSTRACT

The main study area is the Barunga region of northern Australia. Population centres within the region are located on land that is identified with the Jawoyn and Ngarrbun language groups (Figure 14.1). The communities of Barunga, Beswick (also known as Wugularr) and Manyallaluk (also known as Eva Valley) are located on the lands of the Bagula clan of the Jawoyn people. The main language groups living in these community centres are those of the Jawoyn, Mangarrai, Mara, Myilly, Ngarrbun and Rembarrnga. The township of Bulman (also known as Gulig Gulig) and the outstations of Weemol and Gropulyu are located on Ngarrbun land and are inhabited mostly by Myilly, Ngarrbun and Rembarrnga people.1 These communities vary in population size from around 400 people at the major townships to only twenty people at outstation communities. In this chapter I use the term ‘Barunga people’ and ‘Barunga region’ when referring to the people or region as a whole.