Respect to Banjima Man
Prince of the Pilbara
Banjima Man
10-12-6
http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/2006/02/terror-incognito.html
http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/exhibitions/aborigines/xaborcat.html
out there in the bush
I am emperor;
the bush is me
I have done my research
and discovered that I Am Banjima Man!
Bandjima
Paanjima
Pandjima
Pand’ima
Panjima
Panjtjima
Panyjima
Panytyima
and I would tell you that in that language
if I could find anyone alive to teach me.
I would also tell you in the Secret Sign Language
that we use during “special periods” such as mourning.
In fact, I would much rather learn the Secret Sign Language
than the other one
so that we could “talk” in secret…
BUT
Im thankan,
the white fella, he don’t know,
and the neighbouring blackfellas can’t understand,
and since we are the Only Lving People with either skills in- or knowledge of this language,
its probably OK just to say it out loud.
I Am Banjima Man!
I would say
and take a great triumphant gulp of my beer!
Yes, Banjima Man, I would think to myself
(probably in english)
as the cool beer ran down my throat
and drew away
some of the pain from my broken heart…
I am the *last* Banjima Man…
I would silently admit
and watch the cool soothing foam and spit
run to the bottom of my glass…
Yet I would hold my head high -
as high as even Senator Neville Bonner!
for I know the struggles My People have seen.
The Struggle
is never over
I shall continue.
If all else fails,
I’z gwan eatcha!
Though the prima facie evidence of the practice of cannibalism is very meager, and any information concerning particulars is but charily given by the aboriginals, there is no doubt that this custom, though gradually becoming more and more obsolete, certainly does take place.
This is my Country
http://www.tompricewa.com.au/
The rich Pilbara colours of fiery reds, golds and the most brilliant blue skies
This is the other Mob
http://www.roebourne.wa.edu.au/default2.htm
The Yindjibarndi culture is truly unique. With its own language, traditions, customs and laws, the average whitefella can become very confused.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Aus_map_covered_text_lined.JPG
clickable map
http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/pathways.asp
a more helpful clickable map but with placenames
http://www.australian-escorts.com.au/escorts/western_australia/banjima_escorts.html
There are currently no escorts listed in Banjima.
http://www1.aiatsis.gov.au/ASEDA/eMU_B.htm
Banjima
318 Aboriginal languages of the Pilbara: Banjima Wangka Maya, Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre; Lorraine Injie; Alan Dench
From Alan Dench’s work edited by Lorraine Injie [Vocabulary; Texts: 1 file, 24 kB, 194 entries] Open
375 Panyjima Dench, Alan
[Grammar; Vocabulary: 1 file, 318 kB, ~1,000 entries] Open to view but not to copy
442 Bilybara : Aboriginal languages of the Pilbara region Sharp, Janet; Nicholas Thieberger
Funded by the AIATSIS Dictionaries Project [List of Resources: 11 files, 1716 kB] Open
477 Panyjima text Dench, Alan
[Texts: 1 file, 308 kB] Open to view but not to copy
http://mylocal.ninemsn.com.au/results/default.aspx?d=57114&q=Hotels&w=banjima&FORM=MSNH&v=1&CY=en-au&t=k&p=1
http://tinyurl.com/ufd4m
Search the Internet for ‘Hotels’ in banjima
http://www1.aiatsis.gov.au/ASEDA/lgmap.htm#W
ASEDA Languages by region
Click on a region to go to a list of languages in that region:
http://www.dnathan.com/VL/
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages
There are more than 200 Australian Indigenous languages. Less than 20 languages are strong, and even these are endangered
http://coombs.anu.edu.au/WWWVLPages/AborigPages/LANG/WA/contents.htm
An annotated bibliography and guide to the indigenous languages of part of Western Australia
http://coombs.anu.edu.au/WWWVLPages/AborigPages/LANG/WA/4_4_1.htm
Dench (1986 p.c.) says there are about 50 speakers.
North of Ashburton, east of Rocklea station, west of Weediwooli creek, south of Hamersley Range. Eastern portion of Hamersley Range about Mulga Downs
http://www.une.edu.au/langnet/aboriginal.htm
Aboriginal English (written by Diana Eades)
Today many, if not most, non-Aboriginal Australians are still ignorant about Aboriginal English
In many subtle ways Aboriginal English is a powerful vehicle for the expression of Aboriginal identity.
http://coombs.anu.edu.au/WWWVLPages/AborigPages/LANG/WA/4_4.htm#top
Most of the language work done in this geographical area has been conducted in the past thirty years
http://www1.aiatsis.gov.au/ASEDA/
resources on The Luvverly Interwebs – but no Banjima…
http://zoomin.com.au/australia/wa/wittenoom/-banjima+tower-0/
Banjima Tower
http://zoomin.com.au/australia/wa/wittenoom/-banjima+cemetery/
Banjima Cemetary
Images of Australian Rock Art
http://www.sacred-texts.com/aus/ntca/arock.htm
These paintings depict totemic inhabitants of the Australian landscape in the ‘dreamtime’.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/aus/
very very old online books available here
here’s an interesting book about my Pilbara brothers & sisters
http://www.sacred-texts.com/aus/cat/cat.htm
Marriage Laws
As we have seen before, the marriage laws are very strict, and are by tribe as follows:-
1. BANAKA marries BOORONG.
Their children are PALJARRI.
2. PALJARRI marries KYMERA.
Their children are BANAKA.
3. BOORONG marries BANAKA.
Their children are KYMERA.
4. KYMERA marries PALJARRI.
Their children are BOORONG.
Old Testament parallels
http://www.sacred-texts.com/aus/awa/index.htm
It has been said elsewhere that the physical features of Western Australia resemble, in many respects, those of the Holy Land.
BUT
It is scarcely necessary that I should disclaim any intention of identifying my aboriginal friends with the Lost Tribes!
And here’s a joke!
http://www.sacred-texts.com/aus/awa/awa18.htm
I have often heard it averred that the natives are utterly wanting in a sense of humour
Status: Nearly Extinct
Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre
Wangka Maya means “Language Place” in Western Desert Languages.
Deadly Sounds from my brothers & sisters
http://www.deadlysounds.vibe.com.au/dsounds/index.asp
Australia’s only national weekly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music show
There have been many distinguished Indigenous Australians, in politics, sports, the arts and other areas. These include senator Neville Bonner, olympic athlete Cathy Freeman , tennis player Evonne Goolagong, rugby league immortal Arthur Beetson, rugby union legend Mark Ella , AFL star Michael Long, actor Ernie Dingo, musician Jimmy Little, painter Albert Namatjira, singer Christine Anu and many others.
