James Unaipon
Encyclopedia
James Unaipon (c. 1835 - 1907) was an Australian Indigenous preacher of the Warrawaldie (also spelt Waruwaldi) Lakalinyeri of the Ngarrindjeri
.
Born James Ngunaitponi, he took the name James Reid in honour of the Scottish Free Church minister who baptised him. As James Reid he was sponsored by the Aborigines' Friends' Association
for training as a missionary at the Point Mcleay Mission
on the banks of Lake Alexandrina in the Coorong region of South Australia
in 1865. After arriving at Point Mcleay from his home in Wellington
, Unaipon returned to using his birth name of Ngunaitponi however, the europeans anglicised
his name to Unaipon in correspondence.
On 27 July 1866 Unaipon married Nymbulda, the daughter of Pullum (King Peter) who was the Rupelle (misinterpreted as 'King' by colonists) of the Ramindjeri
. The Rev George Taplin assumed that the position of Rupelle was hereditary and widely promoted Nymbulda as a queen, believing that a missionary related to royalty would be more influential in converting the Ngarrindjeri. The Rupelle was in fact elected by the Indigenous Tendi (government) and conferred no additional status to his family.The only source for the name Nymbulda is George Taplin. The Yaraldi genealogy compiled by Ronald Berndt
names her as Nymberindjeri with Nymbulda being her father's first wife and there was also another of that name married to another relative. It can not be ruled out that she was known by both names.
Unaipon co-authored writings on the Ngarrindjeri language was the first Aboriginal deacon
, and the father of renowned Australian inventor, David Unaipon
.
Ngarrindjeri
The Ngarrindjeri are a nation of eighteen "tribes" consisting of numerous family clans who speak similar dialects of the Ngarrindjeri language and are the traditional Aboriginal people of the lower Murray River, western Fleurieu Peninsula, and the Coorong of southern, central...
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Born James Ngunaitponi, he took the name James Reid in honour of the Scottish Free Church minister who baptised him. As James Reid he was sponsored by the Aborigines' Friends' Association
Aborigines' Friends' Association
The Aborigines’ Friends’ Association was established in 1858 out of concern for ‘the moral, spiritual and physical well-being’ of Australian Aboriginal people from the Northern Territory and particularly South Australia. This organization actively operated for over 100 years, and had their final...
for training as a missionary at the Point Mcleay Mission
Mission (station)
A religious mission or mission station is a location for missionary work.While primarily a Christian term, the concept of the religious "mission" is also used prominently by the Church of Scientology and their Scientology Missions International....
on the banks of Lake Alexandrina in the Coorong region of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in 1865. After arriving at Point Mcleay from his home in Wellington
Wellington, South Australia
Wellington is the small town in South Australia on the Murray River just upstream of where it empties into Lake Alexandrina. Its postcode is 5259. Wellington is in the Rural City of Murray Bridge...
, Unaipon returned to using his birth name of Ngunaitponi however, the europeans anglicised
Anglicisation
Anglicisation, or anglicization , is the process of converting verbal or written elements of any other language into a form that is more comprehensible to an English speaker, or, more generally, of altering something such that it becomes English in form or character.The term most often refers to...
his name to Unaipon in correspondence.
On 27 July 1866 Unaipon married Nymbulda, the daughter of Pullum (King Peter) who was the Rupelle (misinterpreted as 'King' by colonists) of the Ramindjeri
Ramindjeri
Ramindjeri are a clan of Australian Aboriginal people forming part of the Ngarrindjeri people. Ramindjeri land is the most westerly of the Ngarrindjeri, covering the area around Encounter Bay in southern South Australia, including Victor Harbor and Port Elliot, however an ongoing native title...
. The Rev George Taplin assumed that the position of Rupelle was hereditary and widely promoted Nymbulda as a queen, believing that a missionary related to royalty would be more influential in converting the Ngarrindjeri. The Rupelle was in fact elected by the Indigenous Tendi (government) and conferred no additional status to his family.The only source for the name Nymbulda is George Taplin. The Yaraldi genealogy compiled by Ronald Berndt
Ronald Berndt
Ronald Murray Berndt was an Australian anthropologist. With his wife Catherine Berndt, they worked in the Northern Territory, in the Daly River....
names her as Nymberindjeri with Nymbulda being her father's first wife and there was also another of that name married to another relative. It can not be ruled out that she was known by both names.
Unaipon co-authored writings on the Ngarrindjeri language was the first Aboriginal deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
, and the father of renowned Australian inventor, David Unaipon
David Unaipon
David Unaipon was an Australian Aboriginal of the Ngarrindjeri people, a preacher, inventor and writer. He was the most widely known Aboriginal in Australia, and broke stereotypes of Aboriginals...
.