View source for Kokatha

{{short description|Ethnic group in Australia}}
{{use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2018}}
The '''Kokatha''', also known as the '''Kokatha Mula''',{{efn|The variation between these ethnonyms, Kukata/Kokata and Kokatha, may represent an original difference between two distinct Western desert dialects, one retaining a [[Voiceless dental and alveolar stops|voiceless alveolar stop]] (''t''), the other a [[Dental consonant|dental stop]] (''th'') ({{harvnb|Platt|1972|pp=3–4}}; {{harvnb|Clendon|2015|p=27}})}} are an [[Aboriginal Australian]] people of the state of [[South Australia]]. They speak the [[Kokatha language]], close to or a dialect of the [[Western Desert language]].
==Country==
Traditional Kokatha lands extend over some {{convert|54,000|mi2|km2|order=flip|abbr=on}} according to the estimation of [[Norman Tindale]], stretching over some of the harshest and most waterless land on the Australian continent. They include [[Tarcoola]], Kingoonyah, [[Pimba, South Australia|Pimba]] and the McDouall Peak as well as modern townships of [[Roxby Downs, South Australia|Roxby Downs]] and [[Woomera, South Australia|Woomera]]. The lands extend west as far as [[Ooldea]] and the Ooldea Range while the northern frontier runs up to the [[Stuart Range, South Australia|Stuart Range]] and Lake Phillipson. Their boundary with [[Barngarla]] lands is marked by an ecological transition from their plateau to the lower hilly acacia scrubland and salt lake zones running south to the coast.{{sfn|Tindale|1974|p=213}}
The tribes bordering on Kokatha lands were, running north clockwise, the [[Pitjantjara]], the [[Yankuntjatjarra]], the [[Antakirinja people|Antakirinja]], the [[Arabana]] and [[Kuyani]] to their east, the [[Barngarla]] on the southeastern flank, the [[Wirangu people|Wirangu]] directly south, the [[Mirning]] southwest, and the [[Ngalia (Western Desert)|Ngalia]] to their west.{{sfn|MapASA}}
According to the Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation ({{as of|2020|10|lc=yes}}):{{sfn|Kokatha: home|2020}}{{cquote| The Kokatha People are the [[traditional owners]] of a large area of land in the northern region of South Australia, estimated to extend over some {{convert|140,000|km2|abbr=on}}. Traditionally the Kokatha people have been associated with the land that is to the north of [[Port Augusta]], stretching from [[Lake Torrens]] in the east to the [[Gawler Ranges]] in the West. This includes the land surrounding [[BHP]]'s [[Olympic Dam mine]] project located at [[Roxby Downs, South Australia|Roxby Downs]] and [[Oz Minerals]]' copper-gold project at [[Carrapateena mine]].}}
==Mythology==
Traditions concerning Orion, a hunter and the Pleiades, a group of women he pursues, are ubiquitous throughout Australia.{{sfn|Hamacher|2018|p=91}} One story transmitted in Kokatha oral lore concerns a celestial hunter, ''Nyeeruna'', who lusts after and pursues the ''Yugarilya'' sisters, who resist his bold advances, protected by the eldest one, the taunting ''Kambugudha''. A firefight ensues, as Nyeeruna conjures up with a club in his right hand fire-magic to overcome the elder sister, who in turns responds by stirring fire-magic from her left foot, and thereby kicking dust in Nyeeruna's face. Momentarily humiliated, Nyeeruna manages to repeat his magical trick, and Kambugudha, who cannot repeat her magic as quickly, calls on ''Babba'', the father of a pack of dingos, to fight Nyeeruna. Eventually a set of dingo puppies forms a line to separate Nyeeruna from the sisters.{{sfn|Sullivan|2023}}
Recently the astronomer Duane Hamacher has advanced the hypothesis that the narrative encodes star-lore, and that the story can be read as a description of the nature of the configuration of stars around [[Orion (constellation)|Orion]], whose name likewise comes from a Greek hunter. In this reading, the Yugarilya sisters represent the [[Pleiades]]; Kambugudha the star-cluster of the [[Hyades (star cluster)|Hyades]]; Nyeeruna's right hand's use of fire denoting the behaviour of [[Betelgeuse]], while Kambugudha's counter-tactic of recourse to a similar fire-magic would allude to [[Aldebaran]]. The difference in the respective fire-power would reflect the fact that while Betelgeuse has a luminosity that regularly pulses by one magnitude every 400 days, Aldebaran's light variation is less regular, and of a lower magnitude (0.2). The dingo puppy barrier would be emblematic of [[15 Orionis]] and the contiguous star cluster of [[Pi|π]]<sup>1,2,3,4,5</sup> etc.  The [[Ngarrindjeri]] have a similar tradition.{{sfn|Hamacher|2017}}{{sfn|Hamacher|2018|pp=91–94}}
==Native title==
{{further|Native title in Australia}}
The Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation is the [[Registered Native Title Body Corporate]] (RNTBC) which covers areas determined to belong to the Kokatha people by the ''[[Native Title Act 1993]]'', and represents the interests of the Kokatha people.{{sfn|Kokatha: home|2020}}{{as of|2020}}, there have been three [[native title in Australia|native title]] determinations relating to the Kokatha in South Australia:{{sfn|NNTT: Indigenous Register}}{{sfn|NNTT: National Register}}
* An [[Native title in Australia#ILUAs|Indigenous land use agreement]] (ILUA) was determined for the Gawler Ranges area, agreed on 13 June 2010.{{sfn|NNTT: Land Use Agreements}}
* A native title claim lodged by the Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (representing a number of other peoples as well as the Kokatha nation) was determined on 5 December 2013, and covers land within the [[Pastoral Unincorporated Area]] as well as the [[District Council of Ceduna]]. This land lies along a wide strip extending inland from the coast, stretching from the border with [[Western Australia]] in the west across to a line roughly direct north of the western top edge of the [[Eyre Peninsula]]. It excludes a number of areas where native title has been extinguished.{{sfn|FWCAC: Home}}{{sfn|NNTT: Far West (1)}} There is also an ILUA covering this area, agreed on 22 May 2014.{{sfn|NNTT: Far West (2)}}
* The second, determined on 1 September 2014, covers an area within the [[Roxby Council]] and some [[Pastoral Unincorporated Area]]. It stretches from the eastern shore of Lake Torrens almost to the western shore of [[Lake Gairdner]], but does not include the latter.{{sfn|NNTT: Kokatha (A)}}
An ILUA covers the precise description of the area of land,{{sfn|NNTT: SI2014/011}} which is described as "about {{convert|30,372|km2|abbr=on}} extending approx. {{convert|129|km}} west of Lake Torrens".{{sfn|NNTT: Register extract|2014}}
Large areas within the Woomera Prohibited Area of the [[RAAF Woomera Range Complex]] overlap with the native title area.{{sfn|Trask|2022a}}
==Significant sites==
The dunes and trees of the area within Woomera are considered sacred to the Kokatha people, being linked to their [[Tjukurpa]] (Dreaming) stories, in particular that of the [[Australian Aboriginal astronomy#Pleiades|Seven Sisters]] creation story. In particular, the [[black oak]] trees are relate to male Kokatha connections to this storyline. The area is supposed to be cleaned by the Department of Defence and the trees protected when weapons testing is under way. However, debris has been found around the site.{{sfn|Trask|2022a}}
There are also a number of significant and rare [[archaeological]] sites which are remnants of previous Kokatha habitation within the weapons testing range, which are described in a 2020 heritage management plan prepared for the Department of Defence by GML Heritage Consultants. There are at least 14 separate stone foundations at Lake Hart North (which is not used by the department), which the archaeologists surmised were either "habitation structures" or "low-walled hunting hides".{{sfn|Trask|2022b}}
At another location, Wild Dog Creek, there are a number of [[rock engraving]]s in the [[Panaramitee Style]] (generally dated to the [[Pleistocene]], 10,000 years ago), created by chipping away the rock with sharp tools. Other [[Aboriginal Australian rock art]] exists throughout the area, including at Lake Hart, portraying, among other things, footprints which match the [[Genyornis]], a giant bird that went extinct thousands of years ago.{{sfn|Trask|2022b}}
The report states that the location was likely "inhabited and used for many thousands of years", informally dated to up to 50,000 years ago (similar to human habitation in the nearby [[Flinders Ranges]]), and the sites could provide hitherto unknown cultural information about the Australian desert area.{{sfn|Trask|2022b}}
==Alternative names==
{{colbegin}}
* ''Cocotah, Kookata, Cookutta, Kookatha''
* [[Gawler Ranges, South Australia|Gawler Range tribe]]
* ''Geebera''
* ''Gogada''
* ''Gugada''
* ''Kakarrura''. (as ''karkurera'' ="east") applied to a band west of [[Lake Torrens]].
* ''Keibara''. ( "plain turkeys"— pejorative)
* ''Kokatja''. (Yankuntjatjarra pronunciation)
* ''Koogatho, Kugurda,Koogurda, Koocatho''
* ''Koranta''
* ''Kotit-ta''
* ''Kukataja''
* ''Kukatha, Kukata, Kokata''
* ''Madutara''. ([[Antakirinja people|Antakirinja]] [[exonym]])
* ''Maduwonga''. ([[Arabana]], also Jangkundjara [[exonym]])
* ''Nganitjiddia, Nganitjidi, Nganitjini''. ([[Nauo people|Nauo]] and Barngarla exonym meaning "those who sneak and kill by night.")
* ''Yallingarra'' (cf. ''alindjara'' ="east").
{{colend}}
Source: {{harvnb|Tindale|1974|p=213}}
==Notable people==
* [[Patty Mills]], Australian basketballer
* [[Gavin Wanganeen]], Australian rules footballer, and [[Brownlow Medal|Brownlow medallist]]{{sfn|Ralph|2010}}
* [[David Arden]], Songman who won The National Indigenous Arts Awards, The 'Fellowships' Award, and a VIPA Song Of The Year Award For The Song "Freedom Called"
* [[Norah Wilson]] (1901–1971), community worker
* [[Frances Rings]], Australian choreographer and dancer
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
===Citations===
{{Reflist|20em}}
==Sources==
{{refbegin|30em}}
*{{Cite web| title = Aboriginal South Australia
| publisher = [[Government of South Australia]]
| url = http://www.reconciliationsa.org.au/learn/map-of-aboriginal-australia | url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130501143508/http://www.reconciliationsa.org.au/learn/map-of-aboriginal-australia
| archive-date = 1 May 2013
| ref = {{harvid|MapASA}}
}}
*{{Cite web| title = AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia
| date = 28 July 2023
| publisher = [[Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies|AIATSIS]]
| url = https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/articles/aiatsis-map-indigenous-australia
| ref = {{harvid|AIATSIS}}
}}
*{{Cite journal | title = Aborigines of the West Coast of South Australia; vocabularies and ethnological notes
| last = Bates | first = Daisy
| author-link = Daisy Bates (Australian author)
| journal = [[Royal Society of South Australia|Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia]] | via = [[Biodiversity Heritage Library|BHL]]
| year = 1918 | volume = 42 | pages = 152–167
| url = https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/136814
}}
*{{Cite journal | title = Vocabularies of four South Australian languages, Adelaide, Narrunga, Kukata, and Narrinyeri, with special reference to their speech sounds
| last = Black | first = J. M.
| journal = [[Royal Society of South Australia|Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia]] | via = [[Biodiversity Heritage Library|BHL]]
| year = 1920 | volume = 44 | pages = 76–93
| url = https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36214696
}}
*{{Cite book| title = Clamor Schürmann's Barngarla grammar: A commentary on the first section of A vocabulary of the Parnkalla language
| last = Clendon | first = Mark | year = 2015
| publisher = [[University of Adelaide Press]]
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=kactCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA27
| isbn = 978-1-925-26111-0
}}
*{{Cite journal | title = Aboriginal bird names -South Australia Part 1
| last = Condon | first = H. T.
| author-link = Herbert Thomas Condon
| journal = [[South Australian Ornithologist]]
| location = Adelaide
| date = July 1955a | volume = 21 | issue = 6/7 | pages = 74–88
| url = https://birdssa.asn.au/images/saopdfs/Volume21/1955V21P074.pdf
}}
*{{cite web| title = Extract from the Register of Land Use Agreements: SI2014/11 Kokatha Native Title Claim Settlement ILUA
| publisher = [[National Native Title Tribunal]]
| url = http://www.nntt.gov.au/searchRegApps/NativeTitleRegisters/ILUA%20Register/2014/SI2014.011/ILUARegisterExport.pdf
| date = 2 Dec 2014
| ref = {{harvid|NNTT: Register extract|2014}}
}}
*{{Cite book| title = Die Eingeborenen der Kolonie Südaustralien
| last = Eylmann | first = Erhard | year = 1908
| publisher = D.Reimer | location = Berlin
| url = https://archive.org/download/dieeingeborenen00eylmgoog/dieeingeborenen00eylmgoog.pdf
| via = [[Internet Archive]]
}}
*{{Cite web| title = Stars that vary in brightness shine in the oral traditions of Aboriginal Australians
| last = Hamacher | first = Duane W.
| website = [[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]]
| url = https://theconversation.com/stars-that-vary-in-brightness-shine-in-the-oral-traditions-of-aboriginal-australians-85833
| date = 8 November 2017
}}
*{{Cite journal | title = Observations of red-giant variable stars by Aboriginal Australians
| last = Hamacher | first = Duane W.
| journal = [[The Australian Journal of Anthropology]]
| date = April 2018 | volume = 29 | issue = 2 | pages = 89–107
| doi = 10.1111/taja.12257 | arxiv = 1709.04634 | bibcode = 2018AuJAn..29...89H | hdl = 11343/293572 | s2cid = 119453488 | url = https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/taja.12257
}}
*{{cite web| title = Home
| publisher = Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation
| url = http://www.fwcac.org.au/
| access-date = 26 October 2020
| ref = {{harvid|FWCAC: Home}}
}}
*{{cite web| title = Home
| publisher = Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation
| url = https://kokatha.com.au/
| date = 21 October 2020 | access-date = 26 October 2020
| ref = {{harvid|Kokatha: home|2020}}
}}
*{{Cite book| title = The native tribes of south-east Australia
| last = Howitt | first = Alfred William | year = 1904
| author-link = Alfred William Howitt
| publisher = [[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan]]
| url = https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:319345/AU0094_NativeTribes_SE_Australia.pdf
}}
*{{Cite journal | title = Anthropometric and descriptive observations on some South Australian aborigines
| last1 = Jones | first1 = F. W.
| last2 = Campbell | first2 = T. D.
| journal = [[Royal Society of South Australia|Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia]] | via = [[Biodiversity Heritage Library|BHL]]
| year = 1924 | volume = 48 | pages = 303–312
| url = https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41571639
}}
*{{Cite journal | title = Divisions of the South Australian Aborigines
| last = Mathews | first = R. H.
| author-link = Robert Hamilton Mathews
| journal = [[Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society]]
| date = January 1900a | volume = 39 | issue = 161 | pages = 78–91+93
| jstor = 983545
}}
*{{Cite journal | title = The Origin, Organization and Ceremonies of the Australian Aborigines
| last = Mathews | first = R. H.
| author-link = Robert Hamilton Mathews
| journal = [[Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society]]
| date = October–December 1900b | volume = 39 | issue = 164 | pages = 556–578
| jstor = 983776
}}
*{{cite web| title = National Native Title Register Details: SCD2013/002 - Far West Coast
| publisher = [[National Native Title Tribunal]]
| url = http://www.nntt.gov.au/searchRegApps/NativeTitleRegisters/Pages/NNTR_details.aspx?NNTT_Fileno=SCD2013/002
| access-date = 26 October 2020
| ref = {{harvid|NNTT: Far West (1)}}
}}[http://www.fwcac.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Extract-Far-West-Coast-National-Native-Title-Register-2014.pdf Extract from the National Native Title Register]
*{{cite web| title = National Native Title Register Details: SCD2014/004 - Kokatha People (Part A)
| publisher = [[National Native Title Tribunal]]
| url = http://www.nntt.gov.au/searchRegApps/NativeTitleRegisters/Pages/NNTR_details.aspx?NNTT_Fileno=SCD2014/004
| access-date = 26 October 2020
| ref = {{harvid|NNTT: Kokatha (A)}}
}}[http://www.nntt.gov.au/searchRegApps/NativeTitleRegisters/NNTR%20Extracts/SCD2014_004/NNTRExtract_SCD2014_004.pdf Extract from the National Native Title Register]
*{{Cite book| title = An Outline Grammar of the Gugada Dialect: South Australia
| last = Platt | first = John Talbot | year = 1972
| publisher = [[Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies|Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies]]
}}
*{{Cite news| title = Indigenous superman Gavin Wanganeen blazed a trail
| last = Ralph | first = Jon
| newspaper = [[Herald Sun]] | location = Melbourne
| url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/indigenous-superman-gavin-wanganeen-blazed-a-trail/news-story/c2dbbc8443cff4dd7694b67aa4d84d32
| date = 3 June 2010
}}
*{{cite web| title = Register of Indigenous Land Use Agreements Details: SI2009/005 - Gawler Ranges - Kokatha Pastoral ILUA
| publisher = [[National Native Title Tribunal]]
| url = http://www.nntt.gov.au/searchRegApps/NativeTitleRegisters/Pages/ILUA_details.aspx?NNTT_Fileno=SI2009/005
| access-date = 26 October 2020
| ref = {{harvid|NNTT: Land Use Agreements}}
}}
*{{cite web| title = Register of Indigenous Land Use Agreements Details: SI2014/003 - Far West Coast Native Title Settlement ILUA
| publisher = [[National Native Title Tribunal]]
| url = http://www.nntt.gov.au/searchRegApps/NativeTitleRegisters/Pages/ILUA_details.aspx?NNTT_Fileno=SI2014/003
| access-date = 26 October 2020
| ref = {{harvid|NNTT: Far West (2)}}
}}
*{{cite web| title = Register of Indigenous Land Use Agreements Details: SI2014/011 - Kokatha Native Title Claim Settlement ILUA
| publisher = [[National Native Title Tribunal]]
| url = http://www.nntt.gov.au/searchRegApps/NativeTitleRegisters/Pages/ILUA_details.aspx?NNTT_Fileno=SI2014/011
| access-date = 26 October 2020
| ref = {{harvid|NNTT: SI2014/011}}
}}
*{{cite web| title = Search National Native Title Register
| publisher = [[National Native Title Tribunal]]
| url = http://www.nntt.gov.au/searchRegApps/NativeTitleRegisters/Pages/Search-National-Native-Title-Register.aspx
| access-date = 26 October 2020
| ref = {{harvid|NNTT: National Register}}
}}
*{{cite web| title = Search Register of Indigenous Land Use Agreements
| publisher = [[National Native Title Tribunal]]
| url = http://www.nntt.gov.au/searchRegApps/NativeTitleRegisters/Pages/Search-Register-of-Indigenous-Land-Use-Agreements.aspx
| access-date = 26 October 2020
| ref = {{harvid|NNTT: Indigenous Register}}
}}
*{{Cite news| title = 'It's new territory': why is Betelgeuse glowing so brightly and behaving so strangely?
| last = Sullivan | first = Helen
| newspaper = [[The Guardian]]
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/may/26/its-new-territory-why-is-betelgeuse-is-glowing-so-brightly-and-behaving-so-strangely
| date = 25 May 2023
}}
*{{Cite book | title = Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names
| last = Tindale | first = Norman Barnett | year = 1974
| author-link = Norman Tindale
| publisher = [[ANU Press|Australian National University Press]]
| url =https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstreams/accca907-ea47-4eb1-8217-aa5d3184e3a0/download
| isbn = 978-0-708-10741-6
}}
*{{cite news| title = Why were missiles being tested 50 metres from trees sacred to Aboriginal people?
| last = Trask | first = Steven
| publisher = [[Special Broadcasting Service]]
| website = SBS News
| url = https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/why-were-missiles-being-tested-50-metres-from-trees-sacred-to-aboriginal-people/ccnw17ghi
| date = 22 June 2022a | access-date = 10 July 2022
}}
*{{cite news| title = The significance of these very rare Aboriginal shelters has been revealed
| last = Trask | first = Steven
| publisher = [[Special Broadcasting Service]]
| website = [[SBS News]]
| url = https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/the-significance-of-these-very-rare-aboriginal-shelters-has-been-revealed/634tt22qt
| date = 23 June 2022b | access-date = 4 July 2022
}}
*{{Cite journal | title = Manners and customs of the Australian natives, in particular of the Port Lincoln district
| last = Wilhelmi | first = Charles
| author-link = Carl Wilhelmi
| journal = [[Royal Society of Victoria|Transactions of the Royal Society of Victoria]] | via = [[Biodiversity Heritage Library|BHL]]
| year = 1860 | volume = 5 | pages = 164–203
| url = https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33305007
| isbn = 978-0-708-10741-6
}}
{{refend}}
==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite web| title = Aboriginal people of South Australia: Kokatha
| website = LibGuides
| publisher = [[State Library of South Australia]]
| url = https://guides.slsa.sa.gov.au/c.php?g=410294&p=5554789
| ref = none
}}
*{{cite web| title = Selected bibliography of the Kokatha language and people held in the AIATSIS Library
| last = O'Connell | first = Margaret
| website = AIATSIS Collections
| publisher = [[Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies|AIATSIS]]
| url = https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/docs/collections/language_bibs/kokatha.pdf
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200326062921/https://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/docs/collections/language_bibs/kokatha.pdf
| date = Nov 2014 | archive-date = 26 March 2020
| ref = none
}}
{{refend}}
==External links==
* [https://kokatha.com.au Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation]
{{Aboriginal South Australians}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Aboriginal peoples of South Australia]]