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The Pitjantjatjara (/ˌpɪtʃəntʃəˈtʃɑːrə/;[1] Pitjantjatjara: [ˈpɪɟanɟaɟaɾa] or [ˈpɪɟanɟaɾa]) are an Aboriginal people of the Central Australian desert near Uluru. They are closely related to the Yankunytjatjara and Ngaanyatjarra and their languages are, to a large extent, mutually intelligible (all are varieties of the Western Desert language).
 | This article has an unclear citation style. (February 2024) |
Aṉangu | |
|---|---|
 Pitjantjatjara ranger at Uluru | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Central Australia: | c. 4,000 |
| Languages | |
| Pitjantjatjara English (Australian English, Australian Aboriginal English) | |
| Religion | |
| Traditional, Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Ngaanyatjarra, Yankunytjatjara | |
They refer to themselves as Anangu (people). The Pitjantjatjara live mostly in the northwest of South Australia, extending across the border into the Northern Territory to just south of Lake Amadeus, and west a short distance into Western Australia. The land is an inseparable and important part of their identity, and every part of it is rich with stories and meaning to aṉangu.[2]
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The ethnonym Pitjantjatjara is usually pronounced (in normal, fast speech) with elision of one of the repeated syllables -tja-, thus: pitjantjara. In more careful speech all syllables will be pronounced.[3]
The name Pitjantjatjara derives from the word pitjantja, a nominalised form of the verb "go" (equivalent to the English "going" used as a noun). Combined with the comitative suffix -tjara, it means something like "pitjantja-having" (i.e. the variety that uses the word pitjantja for "going"). This distinguishes it from its near neighbour Yankunytjatjara which has yankunytja for the same meaning.[4] This naming strategy is also the source of the names of Ngaanyatjarra and Ngaatjatjarra but in that case the names contrast the two languages based on their words for "this" (respectively, ngaanya and ngaatja). The two languages Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara may be grouped together under the name Nyangatjatjara (indicating that they have nyangatja for "this") which then contrasts them with Ngaanyatjarra and Ngaatjatjarra.[3]
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Pitjantjatjara language is used as a general term for a number of closely related dialects which together, according to Ronald Trudinger were "spoken over a wider area of Australia than any other Aboriginal language".[5] With Yankunytjatjara it shares an 80% overlap in vocabulary.[4]
See WARU community directory[6] for a complete list
- in South Australia type 2
- in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara, including:
- Ernabella also called Pukatja
- Amata
- Kalka
- Pipalyatjara
- Yalata
- Oak Valley
- in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara, including:
- In the Northern Territory
- In Western Australia
- Wingellina also called Irruntju
From 1950 onwards, many aṉangu were forced to leave their traditional lands due to British nuclear tests at Maralinga. Some aṉangu were subsequently contaminated by the nuclear fallout from the atomic tests, and many[quantify] have died as a consequence.[7] Their experience of issues of land rights and native title in South Australia has been unique. After four years of campaigning and negotiations with government and mining groups, the Pitjantjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 was passed on 19 March 1981, granting freehold title over 103,000 km2 (40,000 sq mi) of land in the northwestern corner of South Australia.
Recognition of sacred sites
The sacred sites of Uluru / Ayers Rock and Kata Tjuṯa / Mount Olga possess important spiritual and ceremonial significance for the Anangu with more than 40 named sacred sites and 11 separate Tjukurpa (or "Dreaming") tracks in the area, some of which lead as far as the sea. Uluru / Ayers Rock and Kata Tjuta / Mount Olga are separated from the Pitjantjatjara lands by the border between the Northern Territory and South Australia and have become a major tourist attraction and a national park.
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- Gordon Briscoe, an association football player
- Ian Abdulla, an award-winning author, and artist
- Trevor Adamson, a country/gospel singer
- Tiger Tjalkalyirri, an elder and guide
- Anmanari Brown, pioneering artist
- Hector Burton, an artist
- Wawiriya Burton, an artist, known for acrylic works
- Angkaliya Curtis, an artist
- Malpiya Davey, also known as Irpintiri Davey, an artist, known for ceramic artworks
- Jimmy James OAM, a tracker
- Rene Kulitja, an artist, a famous design is Yananyi Dreaming, which covers a Qantas Boeing 737
- David Miller, an artist
- Dickie Minyintiri, an award-winning artist, and sacred lawman
- Tiger Palpatja, an artist
- Walter Pukutiwara, an artist
- Kunmanara Stewart, an artist
- Tjunkaya Tapaya, a batik artist
- Malya Teamay, an Aboriginal Australian artist, and Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park management board member
- Wingu Tingima, an artist
- Tony Tjamiwa, also known as Tony Curtis, a traditional healer and storyteller
- Harry Tjutjuna, an artist
- Yannima Tommy Watson, known as Tommy Watson, an artist
- Ginger Wikilyiri, an artist
- Ruby Williamson, an artist, known for acrylic works
- Nipper Winmarti, Aboriginal tracker and Traditional Owner of Uluru
- Bart Willoughby, a musician, noted for his pioneering fusion of reggae
- Frank Yamma, an early proponent of singing Western style songs in traditional language
- Isaac Yamma, a country singer
- Harold Allison, initiated as a member of the Pitjantjatjara [citation needed] shortly after becoming Minister of Aboriginal Affairs
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- Wiltja, a shelter made by the Pitjantjatjara people and other indigenous Australian groups
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