The Kugu Nganhcara, also Wikngenchera, Wik-Ngandjara (Ngandjara) [1] are an Australian group of peoples living in the middle western part of the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland in Australia. Today they are primarily concentrated at Aurukan and the Edward river settlement.
Kugu Nganhcara is a Wik-language complex [lower-alpha 1] consisting of six varieties or patrilects, Kugu Uwanh, Kugu Ugbanh, Kugu Yi'anh, Kugu Mi'inh, Kugu Miminh, and Wik Iyanh, where 'kugu' is a classifier for speech, and the following word the infinitive of the respective verbs for 'go'. [3] These closely related languages are called patrilects by Steve Johnson since the respective groups belong to a society composed of patrilineal clans joined by exogamous relationships. [4]
The northern bounds of the Kugu Nganhcara are around the Kendall River, and their southern limits are around Moonkan Creek, [5] beyond which lie their southern neighbours the Thaayorre. [6]
The Kugu-Nganychara embrace the following groups: [7]
Norman Tindale used this term to refer to a Kugu group he identified as that whose clan estates covered about 300 square miles (780 km2) in the area between the mouths of the Holroyd River, [9] which would appear to be coterminous with the area assigned to the Kugu Ugbanh. Peter Sutton remarks that this term does not refer to a single dialect, but covers all the clans forming part of a dialect chain between the Kendall and Holroyd Rivers, and that the local name for the cluster is local term is Kugu-Nganycharra (known at Cape Keerweer as Wik-Ngenycharra. [10]
The Wik peoples are an Indigenous Australian group of people from an extensive zone on western Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland, speaking several different languages. They are from the coastal flood plains bounding the Gulf of Carpentaria lying between Pormpuraaw and Weipa, and inland the forested country drained by the Archer, Kendall and Holroyd rivers. The first ethnographic study of the Wik people was undertaken by the Queensland born anthropologist Ursula McConnel. Her fieldwork focused on groups gathered into the Archer River Mission at what is now known as Aurukun.
Kugu-Muminh (Wik-Muminh), also known as Kugu- or Wik-Nganhcara (Wikngenchera), is a Paman language spoken on the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland, Australia, by several of the Wik peoples. There are multiple dialects, only two of which are still spoken: Kugu-Muminh itself, and Kugu-Uwanh.
The Thaayorre, or Kuuk Thaayore, are an Australian people living on the southwestern part of the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland in Australia, primarily in the settlement Pormpuraaw, having its foundation in the Edward River Mission.
The Wik-Mungkan people are an Aboriginal Australian group of peoples who traditionally ranged over an extensive area of the western Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland and speak the Wik Mungkan language. They were the largest branch of the Wik people.
The Kaantyu people are an Aboriginal Australian people of the Cape York Peninsula in north Queensland. They live in the area around the present-day town of Coen. Most of their traditional tribal land has been taken over for cattle stations. Kaantju refers to the hook of the yuli, their word for woomera.
The Ayapathu people, otherwise known as the Ayabadhu or Aiyaboto, were an Indigenous Australian group, living on the western side of the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland.
The Barungguan are an Aboriginal Australian people of the Cape York Peninsula of Northern Queensland. The name is associated with three languages: Ganganda, Umpithamu and Morrobolam.
The Umpila people are an Aboriginal Australian people of the eastern Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland. The majority of the remnant of the Umpila now live in Lockhart.
The Ajabakan were an indigenous Australian people of the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland.
The Wikianji were an indigenous Australian tribe of the Cape York Peninsula of northern Queensland.
The Walmbaria are an indigenous Australian people of Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland.
The Mbewum were an indigenous Australian people of the Cape York Peninsula of northern Queensland. They were dispossessed and became extinct soon after colonization.
The Wikampama, also known as Wik Ompom, are an Aboriginal Australian people of Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland.
Yadaneru, also written Jeteneru, refers to a tribe at one time thought to have existed in the Cape York Peninsula of northern Queensland.
The Wiknatanja, also spelt Wik Ngathanya, are an Aboriginal Australian people, one of the Wik peoples of the Cape York Peninsula of northern Queensland.
The Wikmean people, also spelt Wik Me'an, are an Aboriginal Australian people, one of the Wik peoples of the Cape York Peninsula of northern Queensland.
The Wik Epa, also spelt Wikepa, are an Aboriginal Australian people, one of the Wik peoples of the Cape York Peninsula of northern Queensland.
The Wik Paach or Wikapatja are an Aboriginal Australian people of the Cape York Peninsula of northern Queensland.
The Wikatinda were an indigenous Australian people of the Cape York Peninsula of northern Queensland. They were one of the Wik peoples, but their language is unattested.
The Wik Elken, also spelt Wik-Kalkan and also known as Wik-Ngatharr, are an Aboriginal Australian people, one of the Wik peoples of the Cape York Peninsula of the state of Queensland.