The Nyigina people (also spelt Nyikina, and listed as Njikena by Tindale) are an Australian Aboriginal group in Western Australia who traditionally spoke the Nyigina language. They come from the lower Fitzroy River (which they call mardoowarra).
Contents |
The main town in their area is Derby, Western Australia. Jarlmadangah Burru Aboriginal Community is also one of their towns.[1]
They (along with the completely unrelated Mangala people) have a school in the Jarlmadangah Burru Aboriginal Community in West Kimberley called the Nyikina Mangala Community School. There is also the Looma Remote Community School that they share with the unrelated Walmajarri and Mangala people.
Paddy Roe was an Nyigina Elder who wrote about Nyigina culture and religion.
They have made two native title claims, the Nyikina Mangala claim along with the unrelated Mangala people who live near the Nyigina area, and the Nyikina Warawa claim along with the closely related Warrwa people.[2] The claims are still in process. The Shire of Derby, West Kimberley has made an Indigenous Land Use Agreement though, which covers the Nikina Mangala area, and establishes a protocol for handling Aboriginal cultural heritage issues in the area before works can be done.[3]
Nyigina people have had a higher incidence of heart disease due to hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity.[4]
Full blooded Nyigina people (like other Aboriginies) are lactose intolerant.[5]