Anmatyerr[1] is divided into Eastern and Western dialects,[2] both dialects of Upper Arrernte.[3]
Country
In 1974 the traditional lands of the Anmatyerr people in N.B. Tindale'sAboriginal Tribes of Australia were described as covering an area of 11,200 square miles (29,000 km2). He specifies its central features as encompassing the Forster Range, Mount Leichhardt (Arnka),[4]Coniston, Stuart Bluff Range to the east of West Bluff; the Hann and Reynolds Ranges (Arwerlt Atwaty); the Burt Plain north of Rembrandt Rocks and Connor Well. Their eastern frontier went as far as Woodgreen. To the northeast, their borders lay around central Mount Stuart (Amakweng) and Harper Springs.[5]
Communities
Anmatyerr communities located within the region include Nturiya (Old Ti Tree Station), Ti-TreePmara Jutunta (6 Mile), Willowra, Laramba (Napperby Station) and Alyuen. What is today known as the Anmatyerre region has significant overlap with Warlpiri, Arrernte and Alyawarr language communities. Many people come from two or three different language groups. The Utopia community, 250 km (160 mi) northeast of Alice Springs, and set up in 1927, is partly on Alyawarre land, partly on land of the Anmatyerre. As a specialist in Arandic culture and language T. G. H Strehlow also worked with Anmatyerr people throughout his career, recording much of their ceremonial traditions.[6]
Gwoya Jungarai, aka "One Pound Jimmy", was the first named Aboriginal person to appear on an Australian postage stamp, in 1950. Gwoya is the Anmatyerr word for 'water', Kwatye.
Breen, Gavan (2001). "Chapter 4: The wonders of Arandic phonology". In Simpson, Jane; Nash, David; Laughren, Mary; Austin, Peter; Alpher, Barry (eds.). Forty years on: Ken Hale and Australian languages(pdf). Pacific Linguistics 512. ANU. Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies. (Pacific Linguistics). pp. 45–69. ISBN085883524-X – via ResearchGate.