Ramindjeri
Encyclopedia
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
dispute asserts a much more extensive territory.
Ramindjeri were amongst the first South Australia
n Aboriginal people to come into regular contact with Europeans, with Kangaroo Island
based sealers raiding Ramindjeri territory for women in the early nineteenth century. Ramindjeri men began working as whalers around Encounter Bay in the 1830s.
and the whole southern portion of the Fleurieu Peninsula
, extending as far north as Noarlunga
or even the River Torrens
. However, there is no evidence of continual occupation on Kangaroo Island earlier than the complete separation of the island from the mainland 11,000 years ago. Several small sites dated 6,000, 5,200 and 4,300 years have been found but it is unknown whether these belong to visitors or a remnant population. As available technology precludes intentional visits by Aboriginals, a remnant population of up to 200 individuals is the prefered option with the last dying 2,500 years ago. The territory also overlaps a significant portion of the territory claimed by both the Kaurna and the neighboring Ngarrindjeri to the east. Linguistic evidence suggests that the "Aborigines" encountered by Colonel Light
at Rapid Bay
in 1836 were "Kaurna" speakers.
Ronald
and Catherine Berndt
's ethnographic study, which was conducted in the 1930s, identified six Ngarrindjeri clans (the Ramindjeri lakinyeri) occupying the coast from Cape Jervis to a few kilometers south of Adelaide. Berndt posits that the Ramindjeri clans may have expanded along trade routes as the Kaurna were dispossessed by colonists.
claim lodged by Ngarrindjeri claimants in 1998, determination of which is ongoing. However in 2009, Ramindjeri spokesman Karno Walker challenged the legitimacy of that claim, claiming the Ramindjeri were the rightful owners of land encompassing much of both the 1998 Ngarrindjeri claim and the 2000 Kaurna
claim, and calling the Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri "Johnny-come-latelys".. A native title claim was Registered with the Federal Court
in 2010, encompassing over 20000 square kilometres (4,942,103.3 acre) of land extending to the River Torrens
on the north, Kangaroo Island
on the west, and the Murray Mouth
on the east. Subsequently, Walker made unofficial claims to land as far north as Tea Tree Gully.
The claim was rejected by the National Native Title Tribunal
on 24 March 2011, having failed six of the eleven required preconditions for acceptance, although Walker claimed that eight out of ten had been fulfilled. The Federal Court will hear the case in October 2011.
The native title dispute led some local councils to alter their "Acknowledgement of country" statement prior to meetings. The City of Unley
changed their acknowledgement to read "Aboriginal people" instead of "Kaurna", so as not to take sides in the dispute. Kaurna elders branded the move "hurtful".
, Karno Walker, with architect Michael Thiele and community development consultants Encompass Technology, proposed a Ramindjeri-themed redevelopment at a projected cost of $500million. They claimed it could be funded by private developers in return for parking revenue from a 2000-space underground carpark.
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...
people. Ramindjeri land is the most westerly of the Ngarrindjeri, covering the area around Encounter Bay
Encounter Bay
Encounter Bay is located on the south central coast of South Australia, some 100 km south of Adelaide, South Australia. It is named after the encounter on 8 April 1802 between Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin, both of whom were charting the Australian coastline for their respective countries...
in southern 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...
, including Victor Harbor and Port Elliot, however an ongoing native title
Native title
Native title is the Australian version of the common law doctrine of aboriginal title.Native title is "the recognition by Australian law that some Indigenous people have rights and interests to their land that come from their traditional laws and customs"...
dispute asserts a much more extensive territory.
Ramindjeri were amongst the first 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...
n Aboriginal people to come into regular contact with Europeans, with Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. It is southwest of Adelaide at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent. Its closest point to the mainland is off Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia. The island is long...
based sealers raiding Ramindjeri territory for women in the early nineteenth century. Ramindjeri men began working as whalers around Encounter Bay in the 1830s.
Territory
The Ramindjeri assert a historical territory including Kangaroo IslandKangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. It is southwest of Adelaide at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent. Its closest point to the mainland is off Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia. The island is long...
and the whole southern portion of the Fleurieu Peninsula
Fleurieu Peninsula
The Fleurieu Peninsula is a peninsula located south of Adelaide in South Australia, Australia. It was named after the French explorer and hydrographer Charles Pierre Claret de Fleurieu by the French explorer Nicolas Baudin as he mapped the south coast of Australia in 1802.Towns of interest in the...
, extending as far north as Noarlunga
Port Noarlunga, South Australia
Port Noarlunga is a suburb in the City of Onkaparinga, South Australia. It is a small sea-side suburb, population 2,549, about 30 km to the south of Adelaide and was originally created as a sea port. This area is now popular as a holiday destination or for permanent residents wishing to...
or even the River Torrens
River Torrens
The River Torrens is the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains and was one of the reasons for the siting of the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia. It flows from its source in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant, across the Adelaide Plains, past the city centre and empties...
. However, there is no evidence of continual occupation on Kangaroo Island earlier than the complete separation of the island from the mainland 11,000 years ago. Several small sites dated 6,000, 5,200 and 4,300 years have been found but it is unknown whether these belong to visitors or a remnant population. As available technology precludes intentional visits by Aboriginals, a remnant population of up to 200 individuals is the prefered option with the last dying 2,500 years ago. The territory also overlaps a significant portion of the territory claimed by both the Kaurna and the neighboring Ngarrindjeri to the east. Linguistic evidence suggests that the "Aborigines" encountered by Colonel Light
William Light
Colonel William Light was a British military officer and the first Surveyor-General of the Colony of South Australia...
at Rapid Bay
Rapid Bay, South Australia
Rapid Bay is a small seaside town in the southwest of the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. It is approximately 100 km south of the state capital, Adelaide...
in 1836 were "Kaurna" speakers.
Ronald
Ronald Berndt
Ronald Murray Berndt was an Australian anthropologist. With his wife Catherine Berndt, they worked in the Northern Territory, in the Daly River....
and Catherine Berndt
Catherine Berndt
Catherine H. Berndt , born in Auckland, was an Australian anthropologist. She published valuable monographs on Aboriginal Australia, including Changing ceremonies in Northern Australia ....
's ethnographic study, which was conducted in the 1930s, identified six Ngarrindjeri clans (the Ramindjeri lakinyeri) occupying the coast from Cape Jervis to a few kilometers south of Adelaide. Berndt posits that the Ramindjeri clans may have expanded along trade routes as the Kaurna were dispossessed by colonists.
Native Title
Ramindjeri lands have been subject to a native titleNative title
Native title is the Australian version of the common law doctrine of aboriginal title.Native title is "the recognition by Australian law that some Indigenous people have rights and interests to their land that come from their traditional laws and customs"...
claim lodged by Ngarrindjeri claimants in 1998, determination of which is ongoing. However in 2009, Ramindjeri spokesman Karno Walker challenged the legitimacy of that claim, claiming the Ramindjeri were the rightful owners of land encompassing much of both the 1998 Ngarrindjeri claim and the 2000 Kaurna
Kaurna
The Kaurna people are a group of Indigenous Australians whose traditional lands include the area around the Adelaide Plains of South Australia. Pronunciation of the word "Kaurna" varies slightly by the background and origin of the speaker; the most common is English , sometimes , native or, less...
claim, and calling the Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri "Johnny-come-latelys".. A native title claim was Registered with the Federal Court
Federal Court of Australia
The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court of record which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law , along with some summary criminal matters. Cases are heard at first instance by single Judges...
in 2010, encompassing over 20000 square kilometres (4,942,103.3 acre) of land extending to the River Torrens
River Torrens
The River Torrens is the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains and was one of the reasons for the siting of the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia. It flows from its source in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant, across the Adelaide Plains, past the city centre and empties...
on the north, Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. It is southwest of Adelaide at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent. Its closest point to the mainland is off Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia. The island is long...
on the west, and the Murray Mouth
Murray Mouth
Murray Mouth is the point at which the River Murray meets the southern Southern Ocean. The Murray Mouth's location is changeable. Historical records show that the channel out to sea moves along the sand dunes over time...
on the east. Subsequently, Walker made unofficial claims to land as far north as Tea Tree Gully.
The claim was rejected by the National Native Title Tribunal
National Native Title Tribunal
The National Native Title Tribunal is an independent body that assists people to reach timely and effective outcomes for disputes about native title in Australia....
on 24 March 2011, having failed six of the eleven required preconditions for acceptance, although Walker claimed that eight out of ten had been fulfilled. The Federal Court will hear the case in October 2011.
The native title dispute led some local councils to alter their "Acknowledgement of country" statement prior to meetings. The City of Unley
City of Unley
The City of Unley, is a Local Government Area in the Adelaide metropolitan region. It is located directly south of the Adelaide city centre. The City of Unley was proclaimed in 1906.-Suburbs:-External links:***...
changed their acknowledgement to read "Aboriginal people" instead of "Kaurna", so as not to take sides in the dispute. Kaurna elders branded the move "hurtful".
Victoria Square proposal
After the Adelaide City Council released a master plan for a $100million redevelopment for Victoria SquareVictoria Square, Adelaide
Victoria Square is a public square in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. The square is in the centre of the city's grid of one square mile, and was named by the Street Naming Committee on 23 May 1837 after Princess Victoria, heir presumptive of the British throne. Less than a month later the...
, Karno Walker, with architect Michael Thiele and community development consultants Encompass Technology, proposed a Ramindjeri-themed redevelopment at a projected cost of $500million. They claimed it could be funded by private developers in return for parking revenue from a 2000-space underground carpark.
Sources
- Jenkin, GGraham JenkinGraham Jenkin is an Australian poet, historian, composer, and educator.Graham Jenkin was born in Adelaide and educated at various country schools and at Prince Alfred College, Wattle Park Teachers College, and the University of Adelaide. He spent two years working as a jackeroo on stations in...
. (1979) Conquest of the Ngarrindjeri, Rigby Limited, Adelaide. ISBN 0 7270 1112 x.