Yinhawangka People

About Yinhawangka

Yinhawangka People

Traditional Owners in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, with enduring connections to Country, culture and community.

Yinhawangka People

People, Country, language and culture are connected.

The Yinhawangka People are Traditional Owners in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Yinhawangka identity is connected with Country, family, language, culture and knowledge carried across generations.

Apical ancestors

The three Yinhawangka apical ancestor groups

In anthropology, an apical ancestor is a common ancestor from whom a lineage or clan may trace its descent. The word apical is used because this ancestor is at the apex of the genealogy.

In the case of clans, this may be a real or fictional ancestor chosen for unification purposes. If the apical ancestor of a clan is non-human, it is a totem.

The real apical ancestors of the Yinhawangka people are:

Minatangunha

Minatangunha was born on what became Rocklea Station and passed away at a claypan near the Ashburton River.

It is said Minatangunha, with two wives, one of whom is recalled as having been Yinhawangka, had five children:

Mungunirri Male
Turtja (Cutacross George) Male
Murthi Female
A daughter whose name is not recalled
Kutjilyirri Male

Jarndunha

Jarndunha was born, and later buried, at Tjandunguna (Mount Nameless), to the west of Tom Price.

She and her Gurruma husband, Windawari, had two children:

Thandainha (Minnie) Female
Tjimpu Male

Thurantajinha and Wilga

Thurantajinha and Wilga had four children:

Jimuni Male
Kurtakurta Female
Kawathingu
Yagi

Nothing further is known about the latter two except that it is claimed that Yagi was sent to Rottnest.

Yinhawangka Country

Country

11,920 km²

Yinhawangka Country

Yinhawangka Country covers approximately 11,920 square kilometres in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Country is central to Yinhawangka identity and to YAC's work across culture, heritage, Native Title and caring for Country.

Language

Yinhawangka language

Language is an important part of Yinhawangka cultural identity and connection.

YAC supports appropriate opportunities for Yinhawangka language to be shared, learned and carried forward, with cultural authority and appropriate permissions guiding what is shared publicly.

People & community

Connection across families and generations

Yinhawangka People live both on and away from Country, with family, community and cultural connections continuing across generations.

YAC works with Members through programs, activities, engagement and opportunities that support connection, participation and the sharing of knowledge where appropriate.

Yinhawangka community
Yinhawangka Country

Connected to Country across generations.