ABSTRACT
This chapter summarises the lifeways of Narungga peoples across Guuranda, their traditional sea and land, before colonisation, beginning with the integral role of marine subsistence strategies. Archaeological evidence, archival material, historical accounts, ethnographies and oral histories support the inherent and specialised coastal and maritime nature of past and present Narungga communities. Before and following European settlement, the Narungga peoples of South Australia occupied and continue to occupy the land of Guuranda, from approximately Port Broughton and Nhandhu-warra south to Cape Spencer. Narungga peoples exploited both marine and terrestrial resources, hunting kangaroo, wallaby and other terrestrial species and collecting plants. The Narungga culture, community and individuals identify themselves as the ‘Butterfish mob’, revealing that maritime culture is a concept that is ‘current in the realities’ of Narungga peoples. Narungga peoples achieved a high level of marine specialisation through the variety of cultural methods. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
