The Wadjiginy, also referred to historically as the ''Wogait'', are an
indigenous Australian
Indigenous Australians are people with familial heritage from, or recognised membership of, the various ethnic groups living within the territory of contemporary Australia prior to History of Australia (1788–1850), British colonisation. The ...
people of the
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...
, specifically from just north of modern-day Darwin. The Wadjiginy are a saltwater people who describe themselves as 'beach-dwellers' from the
Batjamalh word 'beach'.
Name
The standard early ethnographic literature referred to the Wadjiginy with numerous variations of the word ''Wogait'', a term taken to mean 'sea folk' by early investigators but which actually covers several tribes such as the
Emmiyangal which later research has shown to be imprecise. Their
ethnonym
An ethnonym () is a name applied to a given ethnic group. Ethnonyms can be divided into two categories: exonyms (whose name of the ethnic group has been created by another group of people) and autonyms, or endonyms (whose name is created and used ...
is derived from , a Batajamalh term for 'beach'. The modern descriptor used among the tribe is ''Wadyiginy''.
Country
The Wadjiginy territory was around Anson Bay, from the debouchment of the
Daly River northwards as far as Point Blaze, and was estimated by Norman Tindale to range over roughly . Their inland extension is estimated at 20 miles from the coast.
Alternative names
* ''Ami''
* ''Amijangal''
* ''Murinwargad'' (Murinbata term)'
* ''Wagaidj, Wagite, Waggait, Waggite''
* ''Wagatsch, Wa(o)gatsch''
* ''Waggote, Waggute''
* ''Wargad'' (
Murinbata
The Murrinh-Patha, or Murinbata, are an Aboriginal Australian people of the Northern Territory.
Language
Murrinh-Patha is spoken by about 2500 people, and serves as a lingua franca for several other ethnic groups, such as the Mati Ke or Mar ...
exonym)
* ''Wogite''
* ''Worgait, Worgite, Worgaid, Wagait''
Notes
Citations
Sources
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{{Authority control
Aboriginal peoples of the Northern Territory