Kaytetye

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One of the boulder formations of Karlu Karlu (the Devil's Marbles), a sacred Dreaming site for Kaytetye.
One of the boulder formations of Karlu Karlu (the Devil's Marbles), a sacred Dreaming site for Kaytetye.

Kaytete is the name of the Indigenous Australians who live around Barrow Creek and Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. Their neighbours to the east are the Alyawarre, to the south the Anmatyerre, to the west the Warlpiri, and to the north the Warumungu.

The Devil's Marbles, which the Kaytetye call Karlu Karlu, are located on a sacred Dreaming site. Kaytetye believe the boulders are the eggs of the rainbow serpent, who passed through the area in the Dreamtime.

The Kaytetye language, like many Indigenous languages in this part of Central Australia is an Arandic language (see Arrernte). A sophisticated form of sign language is also spoken by some Kaytetye.

Kaytetye call the area around Barrow Creek Thangkenharenge.

A number of Kaytete were murdered in the Coniston massacre of 1928, and earlier in revenge killings at Barrow Creek in 1874.

Alternative spellings for Kaytetye include Kartetye, Kartiji, Kaytej, Keytej and Katish.

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