Muthi Muthi

This article is about the people. For the language, see Madhi Madhi language.

The Muthi Muthi people are an indigenous Australian people whose traditional lands are located in the Northern Riverina and Far West regions of New South Wales.

Muthi muthi people
Riverina bioregion
Hierarchy
Language family:	Pama–Nyungan
Language branch:	Kulin
Language group:	Western
Area
Location:	Northern Riverina and Far West regions of New South Wales
Coordinates:	33°30′S 145°30′E
Rivers	Edward River Lachlan River Murray River Murrumbidgee River Wakool River
Lakes	Lake Victoria Reedy Lake Willandra Lakes
Urban areas	Balranald Pooncarie Menindee
Notable individuals
Kutcha Edwards Mungo Man Mungo Lady Ballandella and Tourandury Whitepeeper

The Muthi Muthi are the traditional owners of Nimmie Caira and the Lowbidgee and share custodial rights for Lake Mungo, Mungo Man and Mungo Lady with the neighbouring Paakantji and Ngiyampaa groups.^[1]

Language

The Mati Mati spoke Madhi Madhi, a Kulinic language, and, according to Barry Blake, one of a subgroup, the Mathi languages, of which Matdhi Madhi is the best known.^[2] The subgroup includes the related Watiwati Letjiletji languages.^[3] What is distinctive about it compared to the languages spoken by most contiguous peoples is that it lacks monosyllabic nouns.^[3]

Country

The Muthi Muthi lands stretched over an estimated 2,200 sq. m. (5,700 square kilometres (2,200 sq mi).), taking in the Murrumbidgee River in the area of Balranald, with their southwestern boundary on the Murray River. Their western extension ran cloise by to Lake Benanee. Their northern reaches lay to the west of Carrawatha].^[4] Modern towns encompassed by their territory are Booligal, Oxley, Maude, Homebush, Clare, Kyalite, Tooleybuc, Koraleigh and Euston.^{[citation needed]}

Running clockwise, their neighbours were the Parrintyi to the north, the YitaYita northeast, the Nari-Nari to the east, the Wati Wati on their southern flank, the Dadi Dadi on their southwestern frontier, and the Kureinji to their west.

Archaeological investigation has confirmed a tribal boundary in this location as this is the last known location of Muthi Muthi burial mounds.^[5]

Alternative names

• Bakiin
• Madi-madi
• Mataua
• Matimati
• Matthee-matthee
• Moorta Moorta
• Muti muti
• Mutte Mutte
• Mutti Mutti

Source: Mathews 1898, p. 68; Tindale 1974, p. 197

Native title

In 1997 a claim for native title was made for an area in the south of New South Wales.^[6]

Notable people

• Kutcha Edwards, a musician
• Mungo Man and Mungo Lady
• Ballandella and Tourandury
• Whitepeeper

Some words

• lénghi (camp)
• wanápi (fire)
• wuthúngi (man)

Source: Hercus 1989, p. 46