Muthi Muthi

The Muthi Muthi people are an Aboriginal group of the Kulin Nation whose traditional lands are located in the Northern Riverina and Far West regions of New South Wales. Clans of the Muthi Muthi include the Yita Yita, Kunji Kunji, Tati Tati and Berriat (Parindji).

The Muthi Muthi are the traditional owners of Nimmie Caira and the Lowbidgee as well as the Willandra Lakes, Lake Mungo and the Lake Mungo remains (which are co-owned by the neighbouring Paarkinji and Nyiampaar tribes).

Boundaries

The Muthi Muthi are associated with the lands of the far western region of New South Wales. The Mutthi Mutthi tribal lands were a meeting place of many tribes for ceremonies and marriages. The Muthi Muthi lands are often referred to as the "Five Rivers Region" of Australia. The rivers are the Lachlan, Murray, Murrumbidgee, Edward and Wakool. The town of Balranald lies at the heartland of Muthi Muthi country with the smaller villages of Booligal, Oxley, Maude, Homebush, Clare, Kyalite, Tooleybuc, Koraleigh and Euston also located within Muthi Muthi boundaries.

Neighbouring tribal boundaries are the Barkinji (Paarkinji) to the west roughly along the line of the Willandra Lakes to Mount Dispersion; the Ngyiampaar/Ngemba to the north above Willandra Creek, and the Wemba Wemba/Barabarapa on the south side of the Murray River. The Nari Nari/Wathi Wathi boundary to the east has not been formally marked out but the Nari Nari Tribal Council refer to Dry Lake [near Tchelery] as being the western most reach of their lands. Archaeological investigation has confirmed a tribal boundary in this location as this is the last known location of Muthi Muthi burial mounds.^[3]

Muthi Muthi lands include the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area, Mungo National Park, Yanga National Park, Booligal National Park, Nimmie Caira and the Lowbidgee Conservation Area.

Tindale notes that the Muthimuthi traditional lands were "On Murrumbidgee River at Balranald; southwest to Murray River; west to near Lake Benanee; at Reedy Lake; north to west of Carrawathal".^[4]

Names

There are 64 variations of the spelling of the tribal name "Mutthi Mutthi" in common literature so far in that describes the people and areas of the Native Title Claim. The tribal names may be double-barrelled, hyphenated or singular depending on the reference document. The most common spellings being "Muthi Muthi" or "Mutti Mutti" in archaeological references, "Mathimathi" in linguistical reference, "Mardi" or "Madimadi" in anthropological references. Other common spelling variations in historical literature include "Maadi", "Madhi Madhi", "Muttee", "Muttu Muttu" and "Mataua". Within the native title claim group there is a preference for the spelling "Muthi Muthi" or "Mutthi Mutthi". There are references to Matuara and Maruara. Yita Yita is also commonly referred to as Yidiyidi but has also been spelt, Eethie Eethie, Itha-itha, YidaYida, Jitajita, Ita-ita, Ithi-ithi, Eethee Ethee, Yetho, Yit-tha, Hita Hita or Yitha-Yitha and is known in some historical documents as related to Keramin, Dadi Dadi, Darty Darty or Tati-tati, although other documentation suggests this as the same language.

Native title

In 1997 a claim for native title was made for an area in the south of New South Wales.^[5] As of 2016 a native title claim is before the Federal Court of Australia.

Notable people

• Kutcha Edwards, musician
• Mungo Man and Mungo Lady

References