# Arrernte people

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Group of Aboriginal Australian people

Arrernte welcoming dance, entrance of the strangers, Alice Springs, Central Australia, 9 May 1901, photograph

Artist [Albert Namatjira](/source/Albert_Namatjira) was a Western Arrernte man.

The **Arrernte** ([/ˈʌrəndə/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English)) **people** (also known as **Aranda**, **Arunta** or **Arrarnta**) are a group of [Aboriginal Australian peoples](/source/Indigenous_Australians) who live in the [Arrernte lands](/source/Arrernte_(area)) at *Mparntwe*[1][2] ([Alice Springs](/source/Alice_Springs))[a] and surrounding areas of the [Central Australia](/source/Central_Australia) region of the [Northern Territory](/source/Northern_Territory). Many still speak one of the [various Arrernte dialects](/source/Upper_Arrernte_language). Some Arrernte live in other areas far from their homeland, including the [major Australian cities](/source/Australian_capital_cities) and overseas.

Arrernte spirituality focuses on the landscape and [The Dreaming](/source/The_Dreaming) which the Arrernte name for is Altyerre.[3] [Altjira](/source/Altjira) is the creator being of the [Inapertwa](/source/Inapertwa) that became all living creatures. [Tjurunga](/source/Tjurunga) are objects of religious significance.

The [Arrernte Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arrernte_Council&action=edit&redlink=1) is the representative and administrative body for the Arrernte Lands and is part of the [Central Land Council](/source/Central_Land_Council).

Tourism is important to the economy of Alice Springs and the surrounding communities.[4][b]

## Arrernte languages

Main article: [Arrernte language](/source/Arrernte_language)

"Aranda" is a simplified, [Australian English](/source/Australian_English) approximation of the traditional pronunciation of the name of *Arrernte* [\[ˈarəɳ͡ɖa\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Australian_languages).[6] The ancestors of the Arrernte all spoke one or more of the many Arrernte dialects in the Arrernte [group of languages](/source/Dialect_continuum). Today, several are completely or nearly extinct, but some (especially Eastern or Central Arrernte) are widely spoken and taught in schools.

The Arrernte also had a highly developed [sign language](/source/Arrernte_Sign_Language).[7]

## Culture

The *Hunters of the Central Australian Desert: Arunta Hunter* diorama at the [Milwaukee Public Museum](/source/Milwaukee_Public_Museum)

Arrernte religion and cultural life were documented thoroughly from the late nineteenth century by the Lutheran missionary [Carl Strehlow](/source/Carl_Strehlow), the seminal Australian anthropologists [Walter Baldwin Spencer](/source/Walter_Baldwin_Spencer) and [Francis Gillen](/source/Francis_Gillen) and later by [T. G. H. Strehlow](/source/T._G._H._Strehlow). The Arrernte men worked with Strehlow to document their songs and ceremonies between 1932 and 1974.[8] Arrernte oral history discusses the region of Alice Springs (*Mparntwe*) and its environs being shaped by primordial [caterpillar](/source/Caterpillar)-beings known as *Ayepe-arenye* (*[Hyles livornicoides](/source/Hyles_livornicoides)*), *Ntyarlke* (*[Hippotion celerio](/source/Hippotion_celerio)*), and *Utnerrengatye* (*[Coenotes eremophilae](/source/Coenotes_eremophilae)*) which were ancestral to the Arrernte people. The eastern [MacDonnell Ranges](/source/MacDonnell_Ranges) was formed by the *Ayepe-arenye*, while the western portion of the ranges was formed by *Ntyarlke*.[9][10][11]

## Country

The Arrernte's lands, according to [Norman Tindale](/source/Norman_Tindale)'s estimate, encompass some 47,000 square miles (120,000 km2).[12] Of their overall territory he wrote that they were:

At Mount Gosse, Mount Zeil, and Mount Heughlin; on the Finke River to Idracowra, Blood Creek, Macumba, Mount Dare, and Andado, and some distance east into the sandhills of the Arunta (Simpson) Desert; northeast to Intea on the lower Hale River, thence north to Ilbala on Plenty River; west to Inilja and Hart Range, Mount Swan, Gillen Creek, Connor Well, and Narwietooma; in Central MacDonnell, James, and Ooraminna Ranges.[12]

## Sub-divisions

The name Arrernte refers to the following distinct groups (or "mobs"):

- [Central Arrernte](/source/Central_Arrernte), from the township of [Alice Springs](/source/Alice_Springs) and its immediate surrounds.

- [Eastern Arrernte](/source/Eastern_Arrernte), from the Arrernte lands east of Alice Springs.

- [Western Arrarnta](/source/Western_Arrarnta), from the Arrernte lands west of Alice Springs, out to [Mutitjulu](/source/Mutitjulu%2C_Northern_Territory) and [King's Canyon](/source/Kings_Canyon_(Northern_Territory)).

## See also

- [Arrernte language](/source/Arrernte_language)

- [Veronica Perrule Dobson](/source/Veronica_Perrule_Dobson)

- [HMAS *Arunta*](/source/HMAS_Arunta)

- [Margaret Kemarre Turner](/source/Margaret_Kemarre_Turner)

**Spirituality and mythology**

- [Altjira](/source/Altjira)

- [Inapertwa](/source/Inapertwa)

- [Tjurunga](/source/Tjurunga)

## Notes

### Explanatory notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Earlier the town was also referred to as *Tjoritja,* the word for the MacDonnell Ranges, and also frequently as *Kapmanta* (etymologically, *kaputa*(head) plus *manta* (thick), because it struck Arrernte visitor as so many packed corrugated roofs together ('head' as in househead/roof) ('In neuerer Zeit wird Alice Springs häufig Kapmanta genannt:kap ist eine Abkürzing von kaputa = Kopf und manta = dicht.) Kapmanta heißt wörtlich: dichter Kopf. Gemeint sind:dichte Dächer (Dach = des Hauses Kopf) weil hier die Eingeboreren zuerst mit Wellblech gedeckte Dächer gesehen haben'. ([Strehlow 1907](#CITEREFStrehlow1907), p. 42, n.7)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** The Arrernte way of life is presented through [tour guides](/source/Tour_guide) and [storytellers](/source/Storytelling) speaking of the life, their artwork, their culture and language in a variety of different ways. Tours are run regularly to [Hermannsburg](/source/Hermannsburg%2C_Northern_Territory) and [Wallace Rockhole](/source/Wallace_Rockhole), both of which are (Western) Arrernte,[5] to learn more about the Arrernte way of life, from their artwork to their culture and language.

### Citations

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBrooks1991_1-0)** [Brooks 1991](#CITEREFBrooks1991).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEShort2013196_2-0)** [Short 2013](#CITEREFShort2013), p. 196.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Green, Jennifer (August 2012). ["The Altyerre Story—'Suffering Badly by Translation'"](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1757-6547.2012.00179.x). *The Australian Journal of Anthropology*. **23** (2): 158–178. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1757-6547.2012.00179.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1757-6547.2012.00179.x). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1035-8811](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1035-8811).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERyanDeaneCunningham2008286–288_5-0)** [Ryan, Deane & Cunningham 2008](#CITEREFRyanDeaneCunningham2008), pp. 286–288.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAAA&CC_6-0)** [AAA&CC](#CITEREFAAA&CC).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETurpin2004_8-0)** [Turpin 2004](#CITEREFTurpin2004).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKendon198849–50_9-0)** [Kendon 1988](#CITEREFKendon1988), pp. 49–50.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGibson2020_10-0)** [Gibson 2020](#CITEREFGibson2020).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Local Community & Culture"](https://alicesprings.nt.gov.au/about-alice-springs/living-in-alice-springs/local-community-culture). *Alice Springs Town Council*. Retrieved 13 August 2021. Arrernte stories describe how the landscape surrounding Alice, including the MacDonnell Ranges, was created by the actions of their ancestors, the caterpillar beings Ayepe-arenye, Ntyarlke and Utnerrengatye.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Walsh, Fiona (13 February 2017). ["Box BIO11 Caterpillars as big as a mountain: the role of spiritual beliefs about animals and plants"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191006113052/https://soe.environment.gov.au/case-study/biodiversity/box-bio11-caterpillars-big-mountain-role-spiritual-beliefs-about-animals-and). *Australia State of the Environment Report*. Archived from [the original](https://soe.environment.gov.au/case-study/biodiversity/box-bio11-caterpillars-big-mountain-role-spiritual-beliefs-about-animals-and) on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Sleath, Emma. ["Sacred caterpillars plentiful after the rain"](https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2015/02/05/4174922.htm). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 August 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETindale1974220–221_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETindale1974220–221_14-1) [Tindale 1974](#CITEREFTindale1974), pp. 220–221.

## General and cited sources

- ["Aboriginal Art Culture and Tourism Australia"](http://aboriginalart.com.au/culture/arrernte.html). Aboriginal Australia Art & Culture Centre. Retrieved 23 March 2013.

- ["AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia"](https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/articles/aiatsis-map-indigenous-australia). [AIATSIS](/source/Australian_Institute_of_Aboriginal_and_Torres_Strait_Islander_Studies). 28 March 2025.

- Brooks, David (1991). *A Town Like Mparntwe: A Guide to the Dreaming Tracks and Sites of Alice Springs*. Jukurrpa Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-864-65045-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-864-65045-7).

- [Dixon, R. M. W.](/source/Robert_M._W._Dixon) (2002). [*Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development*](https://books.google.com/books?id=MSqIBNJtG0AC&pg=PR39). [Cambridge University Press](/source/Cambridge_University_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-521-47378-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-47378-1).

- Gibson, Jason (2020). [*Ceremony Men: Making Ethnography and the Return of the Strehlow Collection*](https://books.google.com/books?id=uL3rDwAAQBAJ). SUNY Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781438478548](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781438478548).

- Kearney, Simon (20 September 2007). ["Another language faces sunset in dead centre"](http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/dharris2/pdfs/australian-2007-09-20.pdf) (PDF). [The Australian](/source/The_Australian), [Swarthmore College](/source/Swarthmore_College).

- Kendon, Adam (1988). [*Sign Languages of Aboriginal Australia: Cultural, Semiotic and Communicative Perspectives*](https://books.google.com/books?id=YonNUqqnIRkC&pg=PA49). [Cambridge University Press](/source/Cambridge_University_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-521-36008-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-36008-1).

- Kenny, Anna (2013). *The Aranda's Pepa: An introduction to Carl Strehlow's Masterpiece Die Aranda- und Loritja-Stämme in Zentral-Australien (1907-1920)*. [Australian National University](/source/Australian_National_University). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-921-53677-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-921-53677-9). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [j.ctt5hgz6k.10](https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt5hgz6k.10).

- Morton, John (2013). ["'Less was hidden among these children': Géza Roheim, Anthropology and the Politics of Aboriginal Childhood"](https://books.google.com/books?id=FXRFAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA15). In Eickelkamp, Ute (ed.). *Growing Up In Central Australia: New Anthropological Studies of Aboriginal Childhood and Adolescence*. [Berghahn Books](/source/Berghahn_Books). pp. 15–48. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-782-38127-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-782-38127-3).

- Ryan, Mark David; Deane, Michael; Cunningham, Stuart (2008). ["Australian Indigenous Art: Local Dreamings, Global Consumption"](https://books.google.com/books?id=dlt9AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA287). In Anheier, Helmut K.; Isar, Yudhishthir Raj (eds.). *Cultures and Globalization: The Cultural Economy*. [SAGE](/source/SAGE_Publishing). pp. 284–291. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-473-90357-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-473-90357-9).

- [Short, John Rennie](/source/John_Rennie_Short) (2013). [*Globalization, Modernity and the City*](https://books.google.com/books?id=JIyoAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA196). [Routledge](/source/Routledge). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-136-67151-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-136-67151-7).

- [Strehlow, C.](/source/Carl_Strehlow) (1907). [Leonhardi, Moritz von](/source/Moritz_von_Leonhardi) (ed.). [*Die Aranda- und Loritja-Stämme in Zentral-Australien: Part 1 Mythen, Sagen und Märchen des Aranda –Stammes*](https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/61643/3/Die%20Aranda_Issue%201.pdf) (PDF). Joseph Baer & Co.

- [Strehlow, C.](/source/Carl_Strehlow) (1908). [Leonhardi, Moritz von](/source/Moritz_von_Leonhardi) (ed.). [*Die Aranda- und Loritja-Stämme in Zentral-Australien: Part 2. Mythen, Sagen und Märchen des Loritja–Stämmes*](https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/61643/4/Die%20Aranda_Issue%202.pdf) (PDF). Joseph Baer & Co.

- [Strehlow, C.](/source/Carl_Strehlow) (1910). [Leonhardi, Moritz von](/source/Moritz_von_Leonhardi) (ed.). [*Die Aranda- und Loritja-Stämme in Zentral-Australien Part 3*](https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/61643/9/Die%20Aranda_Issue%203.pdf) (PDF). Joseph Baer & Co.

- [Strehlow, C.](/source/Carl_Strehlow) (1913a). [*Die Aranda- und Loritja-Stämme in Zentral-Australien Part 4: Abteilung*](https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/61643/6/Die%20Aranda_Issue%204.pdf) (PDF). Joseph Baer & Co.

- [Strehlow, C.](/source/Carl_Strehlow) (1913b). [*Die Aranda- und Loritja-Stämme in Zentral-Australien.: Part 4. 1 Abteilung: Stammbaum Tafeln*](https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/61643/8/Die%20Aranda%20und%20Loritja-Stamme%20-%20Inserts.pdf) (PDF). Joseph Baer & Co.

- [Strehlow, C.](/source/Carl_Strehlow) (1920). [*Die Aranda- und Loritja-Stämme in Zentral-Australien: Part 5*](https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/61643/7/Die%20Aranda_Issue%205.pdf) (PDF). Joseph Baer & Co.

- [Tindale, Norman Barnett](/source/Norman_Tindale) (1974). ["Aranda"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200320020206/http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/aranda.htm). *Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names*. [Australian National University Press](/source/ANU_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-708-10741-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-708-10741-6). Archived from [the original](http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/aranda.htm) on 20 March 2020.

- Turpin, Myfany (August 2004). ["Have you ever wondered why Arrernte is spelt the way it is?"](https://www.clc.org.au/index.php?/articles/info/have-you-ever-wondered-why-arrernte-is-spelt-the-way-it-is/). [Central Land Council](/source/Central_Land_Council).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Arrernte people](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Arrernte_people).

- [Arrernte Tribal Group](https://www.aboriginalart.com.au/culture/arrernte.html)

v t e Aboriginal peoples in the Northern Territory Peoples Airiman Alawa Alura Alyawarre Amarak Amijangal Andakerebina Anindilyakwa Anmatyerre Arrernte Awarai Awinmul Beriguruk Bilingara Binbinga Bingongina Bininj Burarra Dagoman Daii Dalabon Dangu Dhuwal Dhuwala Djalakuru Djaŋu Djerait Djerimanga Djinang Djinba Djowei Doolboong Emmiyangal Gaagudju Gaari Gadjerong Gambalang Garrwa/Karawa Giimbiyu Gudanji Gungorogone Gunindiri Gurindji Iwaidja Jaako Jamindjung Jawoyn Jingili Karrangpurru Kaytetye Kukatja Kunapa Kungarakan Kunibidji Kunwinjku Kwarandji Larrakia Madngella Makarrwanhalmirr Mangarayi Mantjintjarra Ngalia Mariamo Maridan Maridjabin Marimanindji Marinunggo Marijedi Mariu Marra Marranunggu Marrithiyal Mati Ke Matuntara Maung Menhdheyangal Mudburra Mulluk-Mulluk Muringura Murrinh-Patha Nagara Nanggikorongo Nangiomeri Ngaanyatjarra Ngalakgan Ngalia Ngaliwurru Ngandi Ngardok Ngarinman Ngarnka Ngarti Ngolokwangga Ngormbur Norweilemil Nungali Nunggubuyu Oitbi Perrakee? Pintupi Pitjantjatjara Pongaponga Puneitja Rembarrnga Ritharngu/Diakui Tiwi Tjial Waanyi Wadere Wadjiginy Wagoman Wakaya Walu Wambaya Wandjira Wardaman Warlmanpa Warlpiri Warndarang Warumungu Watta Wilingura Wongkamala Wulwulam Wurango Yangman Yan-nhaŋu/Nango Yanyuwa Yaroinga Yindjilandji Yolngu Yukul Yumu Yunggor Communities Ali Curung Alice Springs town camps Alpurrurulam Angurugu Anmatjere Aputula Areyonga Arltarlpilta Bagot Baniyala Barunga Bickerton Island Binjari Borroloola Bulman Canteen Creek Daly River Elcho Island Engawala Gapuwiyak Gove Peninsula Gunbalanya Haasts Bluff Hermannsburg Imanpa Jay Creek Jilkminggan Kalkarindji Kaltukatjara Kintore Lajamanu Ltyentye Apurte Maningrida Milikapiti Milingimbi Island Minjilang Minyerri Mirrngadja Mount Liebig Mutitjulu Nauiyu Nambiyu Nganmarriyanga Ngukurr Numbulwar Nyirripi Papunya Peppimenarti Pirlangimpi Ramingining Tara Titjikala Tjunti Umbakumba Utopia Wadeye Wallace Rockhole Warruwi Warumunga Wilora Wugularr Wurrumiyanga Wutungurra Yarralin Yirrkala Yuendumu Land councils Anindilyakwa Central Northern Tiwi Religion and culture Dreamtime (muda, mura-mura, tjukurrpa, etc.) Garkain Mimi Yawkyawk Indigenous protected areas: Angas Downs Anindilyakwa Crocodile Islands Maringa Dhimurru Djelk Ganalanga-Mindibirrina Katiti Petermann Laynhapuy Marri-Jabin Marthakal Northern Tanami Southern Tanami By state or territory New South Wales Northern Territory Queensland South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Arrernte people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrernte_people) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrernte_people?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.