Yilba

The Yilba, also written Ilba and Jilba, are or were an Aboriginal Australian people of the present-day state of Queensland.

Country

In Norman Tindale's estimation, the Yilba were assigned a tribal domain extending over approximately 19,000 square kilometres (7,400 sq mi), from the area of Cape River westwards as far as the Great Dividing Range. Their northern boundaries lay roughly about Pentland Hills and Seventy Mile Range. Their eastern extension was around the Suttor River, while their southern limits were at Lake Buchanan. The Yilba were indigenous to places like on Campaspe River; and the Natal Downs.^[1][2]

Language

Main article: Yilba language

The Yilba language (and variant names as per the people) is extinct as of 2020^[update], with no speakers recorded since before 1975. It is regarded as a dialect of Biri.^[2]

Social organisation

The Yilba were composed of kin groups of which six at least are known:^[3][2]

• Yukkaburra
• Wokkulburra (eel people)
• Pegulloburra
• Mungooburra
• Mungullaburra (spinifex people)
• Goondoolooburra (emu people)

While stating that there are six "hordes", Tindale gave the names of only three, two of which differ from the list in one of his primary sources on the six, namely:

• Moothaburra
• Mungera^[1]

He also adds a possible fourth group:

• Muqkibara^[a]

Alternative names

• Yukkaburra, Yuckaburra
• Munkeeburra
• Moothaburra (horde name^[2])
• Mungera, Mungerra (horde name^[2])
• Eneby (language name)^[b]
• Pagulloburra,^[1] Pegulloburra (horde name)^[2]