Minyana Tjakamara also known as Minjena (c. 1882 – 2 January 1969) was an Australian Warlpiri man and leader of his people who lived during a period of significant change for his people which included being moved to the government settlement of

Yuendumu Yuendumu is a town in the Northern Territory of Australia, northwest of Alice Springs on the Tanami Road, within the Central Desert Region local government area. It ranks as one of the larger remote communities in central Australia, and has a ...

Biography

Minyana's parents were Yangganu Tjupurula and Ginnula Napananga and he was born at Mount Singleton (Wapurtarli), in the

Tanami Desert The Tanami Desert () is a desert in northern Australia, situated in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. It has a rocky terrain and small hills. The Tanami was the Northern Territory's final frontier and was not fully explored by Austral ...

, approximately northwest of Alice Springs (Mparntwe). He was one of four brothers with his brothers names being Moiu, Purjungu and Minawara. Because of his family relationships and his conception site he was a key man associated with the

Tjukurpa The Dreaming, also referred to as Dreamtime, is a term devised by early anthropologists to refer to a religio-cultural worldview attributed to Australian Aboriginal mythology. It was originally used by Francis Gillen, quickly adopted by his ...

of the Kangaroo, Possum, Flying Ant and Yarapiri snake as well as with the Mantala (a sweet acacia gum) and Yala (bush potato). In his youth Minyana travelled in the vicinity of Wapurtarli, remaining within a radius with only occasional travel outside of this. Even as a young boy his intelligence was recognisied by his elders and he was chosen to be taught as a medicine man while also becoming an expert hunter and craftsman of traditional tools; he was particularly expert in making stone knives. During his young manhood Minyana became of warrior and would defend his people against other Aboriginal groups coming in to the country, this fighting was exacerbated by the Federation Drought and the surrounding country being taken up for pastoral leases. As he got older Minyana married and had a large family and he became a naturally respected leader of his people. Minyana's life changed dramatically when, in 1926, his land was inspected by William (Bill) Braitling who, in 1932, used in to form

Mount Doreen Station Mount Doreen Station is a pastoral lease operating as a cattle station in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is situated about north east of Papunya and approximately north west of Alice Springs just off the Tanami Track in the central ...

. Almost simultaneously there was a gold rush at The Granites in the early 1930s which brought with it significant amounts of prospectors. These prospectors would sometimes give Minyana and his family damper, sweetened tea and meat. Historian

Dick Kimber Richard "Dick" Glyn Kimber (1939 - 16 September 2024) was an Australian historian and author who wrote extensively on the history, art, culture and wildlife of Central Australia. He published several books, the best known of which is ''Man From ...

believed that Minyana found himself both drawn and repelled by these new arrivals and was angered when they cut down a tall sacred tree. In 1946 Minyana, his family and his people were forcibly removed to

, which was established as a government ration depot. Despite this Minyana continued to travel regularly throughout the region and continued a hold major extended ceremonies despite pressure from the Government not to do so. He was in demand both as a ritual leader and as a medicine man. Minyana also began to talk with and assist visiting anthropologists (including

Mervyn Meggitt Mervyn John Meggitt (20 August 1924 – 13 November 2004 New York State) was an Australian anthropologist and one of the pioneering researchers of highland Papua New Guinea and of Indigenous Australian cultures. Early life Born in Warwick, Q ...

Charles Mountford Charles Pearcy Mountford OBE (8 May 1890, Hallett, South Australia, Hallett16 November 1976, Norwood, South Australia, Norwood) was an Australian anthropologist and photographer. He is known for his pioneering work on Indigenous Australians and ...

and

Norman Tindale Norman Barnett Tindale AO (12 October 1900 – 19 November 1993) was an Australian anthropologist, archaeologist, entomologist and ethnologist. He is best remembered for his work mapping the various tribal groupings of Aboriginal Australians ...

), filmmakers and other travelers. In one film by Thomas Draper Campbell, called ''Minjena's Lost Ground'' (1951), Minyana discussed life before European contact and highlighted the contrast between their traditional way of life and that at Yuendumu, including the negative impacts on diet and health. This film received fairly wide distribution and the

National Film and Sound Archive The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA), known as ScreenSound Australia from 1999 to 2004, is Australia's audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting, and providing access to a national c ...

calls it "a lament for the passing of traditional life". Minyana became blind between 1995 and 1960. Minyaya died on 2 January 1969 and was buried on his own Country. He is the grandfather of author Harry Nelson Jakamara.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tjakamara, Minyana Warlpiri people 1882 births 1969 deaths People from the Northern Territory