Binbinga
| Total population | |
|---|---|
|
several hundred (less than 1% of the Australian population, about 1% of the Aboriginal population) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|
| |
| Languages | |
| Wambaya language, English | |
| Religion | |
| Aboriginal mythology |
The Binbinga are an Indigenous Australian people of the Northern Territory of Australia.[1]
Mythology
In myths of the Binbinga people of northern Australia, Bobbi-Bobbi was a supernatural being who lived in the heavens in the Dreamtime. He was a huge snake, similar to the Rainbow Snake, and was originally benevolent towards humans. From the heavens he saw that humans needed more than just water to survive, so he created flying foxes for them to catch and eat. When the foxes flew too high for the humans to catch them, Bobbi-Bobbi removed one of his own ribs and gave it to humans who used it as the first ever boomerang. According to the tradition, some humans were not satisfied with these gifts and anxious to see what heaven looked like. Two men pretended they wanted to open a hole in the sky and thank Bobbi-Bobbi personally. They hurled the rib-boomerang and tore a huge hole in the clouds which startled Bobbi-Bobbi so much that he failed to catch the boomerang which fell back to Earth and killed the foolish men. This was the first time that Death had visited the human race, so Bobbi-Bobbi has remained aloof in heaven ever since, making no more attempts to help humans.
Culture
The Binbinga people live in Northern Australia. They used to live Southeast from Old Bauhinia Downs, on McArthur River Station and around Campbell Camp. The Bibinga also live on the upper reaches of the McArthur River and Glyde River.[2] They traditionally spoke the Wambaya language, which was and still is the native language of their people.[3] However, after European settlement of Australia, many of the tribes of northern Australia were westernized and developed an Australian Kriol language to communicate with outsiders. The Binbinga were among these tribes, and today only 89 speakers of Wambaya remain.
The Binbinga nation is traditionally located near Marra language and Alawa.
The Binbinga people are among the Aboriginal tribes to use boomerangs.
References
- ↑ "Australia Map Aboriginal Nations". Matt Anslow. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
- ↑ "Binbing (NT)". South Australian Museum Archives. 2011-11-01. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
- ↑ "Wambaya". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
See also
External links
- Bibliography of Binbinga people and language resources, at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
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