# Nunga

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Term of self-reference for Australian Aboriginal people in South Australia

Look up ***[nunga](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/nunga)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

**Nunga** is a term of self-identification for [Aboriginal Australians](/source/Aboriginal_Australians), originally used by Aboriginal people in the southern settled areas of [South Australia](/source/South_Australia), and now used throughout Adelaide and surrounding towns.[1] It is used by contrast with *Gunya*, which refers to non-Aboriginal persons.[2] The use of "Nunga" by non-Aboriginal people is not always regarded as appropriate.[3]

The term comes from [Wirangu](/source/Wirangu_language), the language spoken around [Ceduna](/source/Ceduna%2C_South_Australia), and is effectively the South Australian counterpart of [Koori](/source/Koori) as used in [New South Wales](/source/New_South_Wales) and [Victoria](/source/Victoria%2C_Australia). Other words used for [Aboriginal people in South Australia](/source/Aboriginal_South_Australians) are [Anangu](/source/Anangu) (north-west), [Nharla](/source/Nharla) (western [Lake Eyre Basin](/source/Lake_Eyre_Basin)), and [Yura](/source/Adnyamathanha) ([Flinders Ranges](/source/Flinders_Ranges)).[1]

In the variety of [Aboriginal English](/source/Australian_Aboriginal_English) known as **Nunga English**, most of the terms of Indigenous origin are from [Ngarrindjeri](/source/Ngarrindjeri_language), with quite a number from the west coast ([Kokatha](/source/Kokatha_language) and Wirangu) and some from [Narungga](/source/Narungga_language), but very few from the [Kaurna language](/source/Kaurna_language) (the language of Adelaide). The language evolved from the people who grew up in missions such as [Point Pearce](/source/Point_Pearce) (Bukkiyana) and [Point McLeay](/source/Point_McLeay) (Raukkan), and so reflects their experience with European culture. Some are working on the emergence of a separate [Kaurna](/source/Kaurna) culture, so would like to see Kaurna language to be taught rather than Nunga English.[2]

Use of the term in official capacities includes the [Nunga Court](/source/Nunga_Court) (Aboriginal sentencing courts),[4][5] the "Nunga Way" cultural teaching framework for schools,[6] the SA Department of Human Services' Yunga Nungas program (to support Aboriginal young people with complex needs)[7] and Nunga Screen (a film event, formerly known as Black Screen).[8]

## See also

- [List of Australian Aboriginal group names](/source/List_of_Australian_Aboriginal_group_names) - lists the hundreds of groups and sub-groups

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Adelaidia_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Adelaidia_1-1) [Amery, Rob](/source/Rob_Amery). ["Aboriginal Languages of South Australia"](https://adelaidia.history.sa.gov.au/subjects/aboriginal-languages-of-south-australia). *Adelaidia*. Retrieved 20 November 2020. Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under a [Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0 AU)](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/) licence.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-amery2016_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-amery2016_2-1) Amery, Rob (2016). [*Warraparna Kaurna!: Reclaiming an Australian language*](https://www.adelaide.edu.au/press/system/files/2019-04/uap-kaurna-ebook.pdf) (PDF). [University of Adelaide](/source/University_of_Adelaide) Press. pp. 13–15, 17. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.20851/kaurna](https://doi.org/10.20851%2Fkaurna). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-925261-25-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-925261-25-7). Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [*Appropriate Terminology, Indigenous Australian Peoples*](https://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/10043/appropriate_indigenous_terminoloy.pdf) (PDF). General Information Folio 5. [Flinders University](/source/Flinders_University). 2004. Retrieved 20 November 2020. Some people use 'Nunga' in general reference to Indigenous peoples who reside in and around the area of Adelaide. Many Indigenous South Australians prefer people not to presume the right to use their word 'Nunga'.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Aboriginal Sentencing Courts and Conferences"](http://www.courts.sa.gov.au/OurCourts/MagistratesCourt/Pages/Aboriginal-Sentencing-Courts-and-Conferences.aspx). *CAA*. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Aboriginal (Nunga) Courts"](https://www.indigenousjustice.gov.au/resources/aboriginal-nunga-courts/). *Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse*. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["School adopts the Nunga Way to help close gap"](http://theleadsouthaustralia.com.au/industries/education/school-adopts-the-nunga-way-to-help-close-gap/). *The Lead SA*. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Metropolitan Aboriginal Youth and Family Services"](https://dhs.sa.gov.au/). *Department of Human Services SA*. [Government of South Australia](/source/Government_of_South_Australia). 20 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Nunga Screen 2020"](https://www.countryarts.org.au/events/nunga-screen-2020/). *[Country Arts SA](/source/Country_Arts_SA)*. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

v t e Aboriginal peoples of South Australia Peoples Adnyamathanha Antakirinja Arabana Barngarla Bodaruwitj Bungandidj Dhirari Dieri Jarildekald, (including the Mulbarapa) Karangura Kaurna Kokatha Kuyani Malyangapa Maralinga Tjarutja Mardidjali Meintangk Mirning Narungga Nauo Ngaanyatjarra Ngadjuri Ngayawang Ngalia Ngameni Ngangaruku Ngaralda Ngarkat Ngarrindjeri Ngawadj Ngintait Ngurunta Nukunu Peramangk Pilatapa Pitjantjatjara Portaulun Ramindjeri Tanganekald Thangkaali Wailpi Warki Western Desert people Wirangu Wongkanguru Yandruwandha Yankunytjatjara Yardliyawara Yarluyandi Yawarrawarrka Yirawirung Communities APY Lands: Amaṯa Iltur Indulkana Kalka Kaltjiti (Fregon) Kaṉpi Makiri Mimili Mintabie Nyapaṟi Pipalyatjara Pukatja (Ernabella) Umuwa Watarru Yunyarinyi Other: Akenta (Poonindie) Davenport (Umeewarra) Gerard Koonibba Manunka Nepabunna Oak Valley Point Pearce Raukkan (Point McLeay) Swan Reach Yalata Former: Colebrook Killalpaninna Ooldea Notable people Ian Abdulla Josie Agius Jimmy Baker Maringka Baker Poltpalingada Booboorowie (Tom Walker) Richie Bray Jack Buckskin Iris Burgoyne Peter Burgoyne Shaun Burgoyne Hector Burton Kevin Buzzacott Malcolm Cooper Vince Copley Nyakul Dawson Deadly Nannas Gladys Elphick Stevie Goldsmith Adam Goodes Tuppy Ngintja Goodwin Cecil Graham Colin Graham Michael Graham Ruby Hammond Ruby Hunter Ivaritji Tjungkara Ken Kudnarto Natascha McNamara Patty Mills Betty Muffler Douglas Nicholls Lewis O'Brien Lowitja O'Donoghue Michael O'Loughlin Alitya Rigney Frances Rings Nura Rupert Tauto Sansbury Eileen Yaritja Stevens Moogy Sumner Faith Thomas David Unaipon James Unaipon Gavin Wanganeen Natasha Wanganeen Ginger Wikilyiri Norah Wilson Chad Wingard Tjayanka Woods Organisations Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Aṉangu schools Koonibba Football Club Kupa Piṯi Kungka Tjuṯa Maralinga Tjarutja Nunga Court Tauondi Aboriginal College List of Aboriginal schools Religion and culture Arkaroo Dreamtime (muda, mura-mura, tjukurrpa, etc.) Tjilbruke Muldjewangk Ngiṉṯaka Wati-kutjara Indigenous protected areas: Watarru Mount Willoughby Co-managed protected areas: Dhilba Guuranda-Innes Elliot Price Conservation Park Gawler Ranges National Park Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park (part) Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park Lake Gairdner National Park Ikara–Flinders Ranges National Park Innamincka Regional Reserve Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park Mamungari Conservation Park Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area Nullarbor Regional Reserve Pureba Conservation Park Strzelecki Regional Reserve Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park Wapma Thura–Southern Flinders Ranges National Park Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park Witjira National Park Yumbarra Conservation Park Languages Adnyamathanha Antakirinja Arabana Barngarla Dieri Kaurna Narungga Ngadjuri Ngamini (Yarluyandi) Ngarrindjeri Paakantyi Wangkangurru Western Desert language (dialects: Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara) Wirangu Yandruwandha Yarli (Malyangapa) Yuyu Language groups: Lower Murray languages Thura-Yura languages Sign languages Words: Aṉangu (Western Desert language) Nunga (Aboriginal English) Laws Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 1966 Aboriginal Witnesses Act Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 Laws concerning Indigenous Australians Letters Patent Cases: List of native title claims in South Australia History Aboriginal reserve Aborigines' Friends' Association Aborigines Protection Board Australian frontier wars Avenue Range Station massacre British colonisation of South Australia British nuclear tests at Maralinga (Royal Commission) Hindmarsh Island Bridge controversy (Royal Commission) History of South Australia Maria massacre Native School Protector of Aborigines Royal Commission on the Aborigines St Francis House Stolen Generations (Federal Parliamentary inquiry)) United Aborigines Mission Waterloo Bay massacre 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 [Nunga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunga) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunga?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.