The Murundi

Ngintait^†

The Ngintait nation is principally on the southern bank of the Murray River from around Ned's Corner, NSW to Paringa, SA, and south down to Loxton, thought their territory was mostly in the Mallee. Some references to the Mildura tribe suggest close historical relationships that continue today as the Latji Latji, Ngintait, Jari Jari, and Wergaia (south of the Murray) are collectively referred to as the First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee.

Yirawirung

The Yirawirung (Erawirung^†) nation encompasses the Murray from around Chowilla to Cobdogla, including the Great Pyap Bend area that includes Loxton and Katarapko Island. Between Chowilla and Loxton, the Ngintait people were just to the east in the Mallee and would likely have frequently accessed the river.

• They had control over cheat mines at Springcart Gully (between Lyrup and Berri) and south of Renmark, with tools made from the stone found as far away as Devon Downs.

Ngawadj

The Ngawadj (Ngawait^†) nation was found between Cobdogla and Boggy Flan (Lock 2). This is sometimes included in the lower Riverland nations.

Ngayawang

The Ngayawang (Ngaiawang^†) nation extends from the North West Bend (Morgan), likely around Taylorville (Lock 2), down to Devon Downs (Ngaut Ngaut) or Wongulla.

Nildottie is named after the Ngayawang word ngurltartang meaning "smoke signal hill", where the Ngawait people in the southern Mallee part of their territory would light smoke signals to let the local tribes know that they were passing through to access the river.

• Waikerie derives its name from Weikari that translates to ‘the rising’. This refers to the emergence of ghost moths from the ground along the river after heavy rain.
• The language was similar to Nganguruku downstream.

Nganguruku^†

The Nganguruku nation extend from Devon Downs (Ngaut Ngaut) to just south of Mannum.

• The Nganguruku ranged into the Mallee of the back ‘country’ on both sides of the river.
• Rock engravings in sites like Ngaut Ngaut show depictions of either a shark or dolphin, showing the extent that sea water animals could traverse up the river in some dry seasons when the mouth was open.
• The residents of the Manunka Mission were largely Nganguruku.
• The language was similar to Ngaiawang upstream.

Ngaralda

The Ngaralda (Ngaralta^†) nation extends from around Mannum to Swanport (Murray Bridge).

Yaraldi

Yaraldi (Jarildekald^†) nation covered a large area on the eastern side of the Murray River from around Murray Bridge down to and including the eastern side of Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert. This includes Tailem Bend.

• Point McLeay Mission was established in 1859 and was government-run from 1916 to 1974.
• Point McLeay was returned to the Ngarrindjeri people in 1974 and renamed Raukkan in 1982.
• The language is very similar, if not the same, as Ramindjeri.
• Fish pounds were made by using wooden stakes in a circular pattern, allowing them to preserve fish alive.

Tanganekald^†

The Tanganekald nation occupied the Coorong to the east of the Murray Mouth and many of the seaward islands of Lake Alexandrina.

The area in the vicinity of the Murray Mouth, Coorong, and Lake Alexandrina is known as “the Meeting of the Waters" and has many culturally sensitive sites.

Twenty-six survivors of the wreck of the Maria were killed by the Milmenrura, marking the largest massacre of colonists in Australia by Aboriginals. In retaliation for the attack, two men were hanged by mounted police, and it has been alleged that the police killed many others.

Portaulun^†

The Portaulun nation occupied from Wood Hill to Wellington, the northern shores of Lake Alexandrina, including Pomanda Point.

• Welindjeri synonym is derived from the European name and simply means the 'people that lived at Wellington'.

Warki^†

The Warki (Warkend) lived west of Lake Alexandrina from Grote Hill to Currency Creek, including Clayton Bay and parts of Hindmarsh Island.

• The Warki, Peramangk, and Kaurna peoples would meet and trade on and around Mount Compass.

Ramindjeri^†

The Ramindjeri nation lived along the sea from Cape Jervis to the Murray Mouth and included Goolwa and Currency Creek.

• The language is very similar, if not the same, as Yaradli.
• Their lands likely included Kangaroo Island up until it separated from the mainland 11,000 years ago.