ely mine block traditional language names: a guide to

Ely Mine Block Traditional Language Names: A Guide to Their Meaning and Pronunciation

Introduction (Updated March 2015)

This booklet has been prepared as a guide for Rio Tinto Alcan (RTA) employees and contractors working in the Ely area of mining lease ML 7031. In 2002 Comalco, now RTA, sought advice from the Coordination Committee of the Ely Bauxite Mining Project Agreement to suggest traditional Aboriginal- language names for each of the 39 mine blocks in the Ely area, so that the blocks could be easily identified for mine communications and safety purposes. The Ely Coordination Committee warmly endorsed this idea and the then Vice-Chairperson, Moira Bosen, assisted with consultation of Traditional Owners to plan the necessary field work. Each of the 39 mine blocks in the Ely area has been given traditional Aboriginal language names chosen by Traditional Owners. The Eurum block takes its name from nearby Eurum Creek, while the other block names do not represent specific places but were nominated by Traditional Owners by travelling across the country and listening to the ancestral spirits. Several field visits organised by Geoff Wharton, then Alcan Community Relations Representative, and conducted with Thanakwith People and Taepithiggi (Mpakwithi) People to inspect the land on each block. The Taepithiggi People chose six names in the Mpakwithi language for the blocks in the north-eastern portion of Ely, while thirty-two names were chosen by the Thanakwith People in the Thaynakwith language and one name was chosen by an elder in the Tjungundji language in memory of her late husband. A map showing each named mine block and a pronunciation table was prepared by RTA site cartographer Chris Newman and officially launched at a ceremony attended by Traditional Owners, the Ely Coordination Committee, and company executives at the Ely Dam in December 2005. The Ely Coordination Committee acknowledges the contributions to the naming process by the following people: June Beasley, Moira Bosen, Florence Charger, Mary Ann Coconut, Celia Fletcher, Steven Hall, Jean Little OAM, the late Mrs Victoria Luff, the late Dr Thancoupie Fletcher-James AO and Dr Bruce Sommer. Thanks also to Simon Cupper for his early involvement with the project. We hope that you enjoy learning and using these traditional names which represent the ancient spirits of this land. Linda McLachlan Chairperson Ely Coordination Committee

Originally Prepared by Geoff Wharton (2010)

Ely Mine Block Names: A Guide to Their Meaning and Pronunciation 3

ELY MINE BLOCK NAME DETAILS

Block Number

Block Name

Pronunciation (approximate guide only)

English meaning or origin and scientific name (where applicable)

E1 Eurum "you-rum” Named after nearby Eurum Creek

E2 Kiambara “kamberra” Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

E3 Rindhi “rinddi” Northern Snake-necked Turtle (Chelodina rugosa)

E4 Ladhu “lar-thoo” Hawk, Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)

E5 Torro’ “tro-row” Black-necked Stork, Jabiru (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus)

E6 Cher “chair” Local species of Egret (Egretta alba, E.garzetta)

E7 Magha “maagh-ah” Small (Eastern) Brown Snake (Pseudechis australis)

E8 Gejingana “gedge-ing-ana” Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

E9 Arrak “arrack” Freshwater Bonefish or Oxeye Herring (Megalops cyprinoides)

E10 Kunjer “koonjair” Black Bream or Freshwater Grunter (Hephaestus fuliginosus)

E11 Kiwili “kee-wee-lee” Curlew or Eastern Curlew (Numenius Madagascarlensis)

E12 Mrechil “mretchill” Hard Head or White-eyed Duck (Aythya australis)

E13 Yurubu “you-roo-boo” Little Corella (Catatua pastinator)

E14 Kluthuthu “kloot-oo-too” Peaceful Dove/Bar- shouldered Dove (Geopelia striata, Geopelia humeralis)

E15 Alakanam “alack-a-naam” Red Kurrajong (Brachychiton paradoxum)

E16 Winbi “win-bee” Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)

E17 Yethi “yettie” The general name of any Bird

E18 Thaynawa “thine-a-wah” Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axcillaris)

E19 Muth “moot-th” Fire stick or firedrill (Clerodendrum floribundum)

E20 Mbwalak “mm-bwall-ack” Torres Strait Pigeon (Ducula bicolor)

E21 Wa’Pri’ “waar-pree” Freshwater Crayfish, Redclaw (Cherax quadricarinatus)

E22 Ngul “nool” Mosquito

E23 Korapayn “cora-pine” Brown Quail (Coturnix ypstiophora)

E24 Uruluk “oo-roo-look” Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus)

E25 Kukuth “coo-cooth” Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus)

E26 Thow “thow” as in “wow!”

Marker place, cross-roads

E27 Chunggan “choong-gaan” Rifle Fish (Toxotes chatareus)

E28 Akukul “akoo-cool” Emerald Ground-Dove (Chalcophaps indica)

E29 Rimbith “rim-bith” Queenfish (Scomberoides commersonianus)

E30 Mankan “marn-carn” Sleepy Cod (Oxyeleotris lineolatus)

E31 Njwan “en-jwaarn” Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Scrub Hen (Megapodius reinwardt)

E32 Chinchin “chin-chin” Pied Mudlark, Peewee (Grallina cyanoleuca)

E33 Kanj “karnage” White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca)

E34 Pwa’thim “pwaah-thim” Place of waters

E35 Vrilingathi “frill-ing-nathy” Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus)

E36 Arar “ah-rah” Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae)

E37 Wath “waa-th” Crow, Torresian Crow (Corvus orru)

E38 Yarr “yarra” Great Frigatebird/Least Frigatebird (Fregata minot, Fregata ariel)

E39 Kili “kee-lee” Red-winged Parrot (Aprosmictus erythropterus)


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.

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“Thin

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with”

or

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Th

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with”.

Tju

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“Choon

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AN

DO

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ELY MINE BLOCK


E 1 Eurum

Pronounced “you-rum” in the Mpakwithi language, this block was named after the creek which flows to the east of the mine block.

E 2 Kiambara Pronounced “kamberra” in the Mpakwithi language, this is the Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) found in the waters of the Pine River, Wenlock River and occasionally in the Ely Dam. This dangerous animal is a totem of the Mpakwithi People. Nearby Tent Pole Creek is recognised as the best estuarine crocodile breeding habitat in Queensland. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.

E 3 Rindhi

Pronounced “rinddee” in the Mpakwithi language, the Northern Snake-necked Turtle (Chelodina rugosa) is a valued food resource found in freshwater creeks and lagoons. They are sometimes seen crossing mine roads during travel between wetlands.


E 4 Ladhu Pronounced “lar-thoo” in the Mpakwithi language, Kite Hawks or Whistling Kites (Haliastur sphenurus) are commonly seen in the Ely area, particularly when bush fires are burning. © Graeme Chapman, 2007.

E 5 Torro' Pronounced “tor row” in the Thaynakwith language, the Black-necked Stork or Jabiru (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) is a species of water bird often seen near the head of the Ely Dam and occasionally fishing at low tide near the Mission River bridge. © Graeme Chapman, 2007.


E 6 Cher Pronounced “chair” in the Thaynakwith language, Egrets are seen on or near the waterways of the Ely area. There are three species of Egrets in this region, including Ardea alba, A. garzetta and A. intermedia.

E 7 Magha Pronounced “maagh-ah” in the Mpakwithi language, this is a brown snake, most likely the venomous Eastern Brown (Pseudechis australis). DANGEROUS. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.


E 8 Gejingana Pronounced “gedge-ing-anna” in the Mpakwithi language, Emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) are occasionally seen in the Ely area.

E 9 Arrak Pronounced “arrack” in the Thaynakwith language, Freshwater Bonefish or Oxeye Herring (Megalops cyprinoides) may be seen in estuaries and mangrove-lined creeks in the region. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.

E 10 Kunjer Pronounced “koonjair”, Black Bream or Freshwater Grunter (Hephaestus fuliginosus) are a popular traditional food source. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.


E 11 Kiwili

Pronounced “kee-wee-lee” in the Thaynakwith language, the Curlew or Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) takes its name from its plaintive call. This bird may be seen walking along mudflats and beaches as it searches for small shellfish. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.

E 12 Mrechil

Pronounced “mretchill” in the Thaynakwith language, Hard Heads of White-eyed Ducks (Aytha australis) are sometimes seen on the Ely Dam. © Graeme Chapman, 2007.


E 13 Yurubu

Pronounced “you-roo-boo” in the Thaynakwith language, Little Corellas (Cacatua sp.) are birds of the open forest and grasslands. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.

E 14 Kluthuthu (Bar Shouldered Dove)

Pronounced “kloot-oo-too” in the Thaynakwith language, Peaceful Doves (Geopelia striata) and Bar-shouldered Doves (Geopelia humeralis) are common birds of the open woodlands of the Ely area.


E 15 Alakanam

Pronounced “alack-a-naam” in the Thaynakwith language, the Red-flowered Kurrajong (Brachychiton paradoxum) is a medicine plant that grows in the area where this mine block is situated. The leaves were warmed on the fire and placed on children’s knees to strengthen them for walking.

E 16 Winbi

Pronounced “win-bee” in the Thaynakwith language, Rainbow Bee-eaters (Merops ornatus) are small fast-moving rainbow-coloured birds that are often seen taking a dust bath on bush tracks during the dry season. They feed on bees, wasps and other insects. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.


E 17 Yethi

Pronounced “yettie” in the Thaynakwith language, this is the general name for any bird. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.

E 18 Thaynawa

Pronounced “thine-ah-wah” in the Thaynakwith language, Black-shouldered Kites (Elanus axcillaris) feed in the open woodlands on small animals and insects. © Graeme Chapman, 2007.


E 19 Muth

Pronounced “moot-th” in the Thaynakwith language, fire sticks or firedrills were an important tool used to ignite tinder for fires. The Thaynakwith name for the Possum Scrub area is muth arrak. Muth arrak is the plant species (Clerodendrum floribundum) used to make fire sticks. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.

E 20 Mbwalak

Pronounced “mm-bwall-ack” in the Thaynakwith language, Torres Strait Pigeons or Torresian Imperial Pigeons (Ducula bicolor) migrate down to the Western Cape region from about October to December every year, then return to the Torres Strait islands. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.


E 21 Wa' pri

Pronounced “waar-pree” in the Thaynakwith language, Freshwater Crayfish or Redclaw (Cherax quadricarinatus) are an excellent food source. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.

E 22 Ngul

Pronounced “nool” in the Thaynakwith language, mosquitoes inhabit still water and mangrove areas of the estuaries. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.


E 23 Korapayn

Pronounced “cora-pine” in the Thaynakwith language, Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora) may be seen in grassy areas and swamplands. © Graeme Chapman, 2007.

E 24 Uruluk

Pronounced “oo-roo-look” in the Thaynakwith language, the Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) is one of the most venomous snakes in Australia. DANGEROUS © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.


E 25 Kukuth

Pronounced “coo-cooth” in the Thaynakwith language, the Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus) has a long tail and is sometimes seen rushing across the road or in low flight. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.

E 26 Thow

Pronounced “thow as in wow!” in the Thaynakwith language, this is a marker place or cross-roads and is named for the intersection of the Mapoon road, Stone Crossing road and the Ely dam road.

E 27 Chunggan

Pronounced “choong-gaan” in the Thaynakwith language, Rifle Fish (Toxotes chatareus) are common in fresh and estuary waters of the Western Cape. It is remarkable for its ability to shoot down insect prey with a jet of water from its mouth. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.


E 28 Akukul

Pronounced “akoo-cool” in the Thaynakwith language, Emerald Doves (Chalcophaps indica) live in the dry vine scrubs of the western Cape region and feed mainly on fruits and seeds. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.

E 29 Rimbith

Pronounced “rim-bith” in the Thaynakwith language, Queenfish (Scomberoides commersonianus) are large fighting fish found in and near mangrove creeks. © The State of Queensland, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, 2007


E 30 Mankan

Pronounced “marn-carn” in the Thaynakwith language, Sleepy Cod (Oxyeleotris lineolatus) is a freshwater fish found widely in the rivers of western Cape York Peninsula. © Paul Lennon, 2007, supplied by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.

E 31 Njwan

Pronounced “en-jwaarn” in the Thaynakwith language, Orange-footed Scrubfowls or Scrub Hens (Megapodius reinwardt) build large mounds of rotting vegetation and soil to incubate their eggs. They feed on berries and seeds on the ground, but roost in the trees. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.


E 32 Chinchin Pronounced “chin-chin” in the Thaynakwith language, Pied Mudlarks or Peewees (Grallina cyanoleuca) are common birds throughout north Queensland. © Graeme Chapman, 2007.

E 33 Kanj

Pronounced “karndge” in the Thaynakwith language, White Ibis or Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) can be seen in the coastal swamplands of the western Cape region. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.


E 34 Pwa' thim

Pronounced “pwaah-thim”, this is the place of waters, named for the nearby blue water hole which was a favourite place of the late elder and cultural custodian Adheytha (Mrs Gertrude Motton), who was a founding member of the Ely Coordination Committee.

E 35 Vrilingathi

Pronounced “frill-ing-nathy”, the Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) is Australia’s largest parrot. It is only found in northern Cape York Peninsula extending southwards to a line between about Weipa and Lockhart River. Named by late Thaynakwith elder Mrs Victoria Luff, in honour of her late husband Dick, Vrilingathi is a magnificent bird that is usually seen on the edge of vine forests or along creek lines.

E 36 Arar

Pronounced “ah-rah” in the Thaynakwith language, the Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) is a common bird of the open woodlands in the Ely area. © Graeme Chapman, 2007.


E 37 Wath

Prounounced “waa-th” in the Thaynakwith language, Crows or Torresian Crows (Corvus orru) are common birds of the open woodlands in the Ely area. © Jeffrey Wright, 2007, supplied by the Queensland Museum.

E 38 Yarr Pronounced “yarra” in the Thaynakwith language, Great Frigatebirds (Fregata minor) and Lesser Frigatebirds (Fregata ariel) are totem birds of the central Thaynakwith People. They spend the daylight hours fishing at sea, returning at sunset to roost on land. © Graeme Chapman, 2007.


E 39 Kili

Pronounced “kee-lee” in the Thaynakwith language, Red-winged Parrots (Aprosmictus erythropterus) are birds of the open woodland and may be seen as a flash of green and red as they fly about the Ely area. © Graeme Chapman, 2007.

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