Kureinji

The Kureinji, otherwise known as the Keramin, are an Aboriginal group whose traditional lands are located in south-west New South Wales, Australia, along the north side of the Murray River, roughly between today's settlements of Euston and Wentworth.

Kureinji Traditional lands New South Wales
Murray River on Kureinji lands
Kureinji Traditional lands
Coordinates	34°11′0″S 142°11′0″E

Language

Kureinji was one of 35 languages spoken in this area of south-western New South Wales, around and north of the border with Victoria.^[1] Linguistically, the people were part of the Lower Murray Areal group,^[2] and with Yitayita and Dadi Dadi forms a distinct subfamily.^[3]

Country

According to ethnologist Norman Tindale, the traditional lands of the Kureinji embraced some 1,700 square miles (4,400 km²) of territory, running in good part along the northern banks of the Murray River, ranging from the vicinity of Euston to Wentworth downstream.^[4]

Across the river from the Kureinji, Mildura, which is in Latjilatji tribal land, was first settled by Europeans in 1847.

Kemendok National Park is part of their traditional land, and traces of their habitation remains in scar trees, fire hearths, flaked stone artefacts, burial sites and middens.^[5]

History

Charles Sturt^[6] passed through their country in 1830 but did not mention the Kureinji. Charles Lockhart in 1862 also appears to mention them, but without specifying them by name.^[4] Today, many Kureinji live in Mildura.

During colonial times, the remains of many Aboriginal people were looted from five burial sites along the New South Wales side of the Murray River,^[7] and became part of the Murray Black Collection. Aboriginal groups have sought the repatriation of the bodies.^[a]

Alternative names

• Garnghes
• Grangema
• Jungeegatchere
• Kareingi
• Karin
• Kemendok
• Keramin
• Kerinma, Karinma, Karingma
• Kianigane
• Kinenekinene
• Orangema (misprint)
• Pintwa

Source: Tindale 1974