Martu (Indigenous Australian)

The Martu (Mardu) are an Australian Aboriginal people, who are part of the "Western Desert cultural bloc". Martu means 'one of us', or 'person' in Western Desert languages. Their traditional lands are a large tract in the Great Sandy Desert, within the Pilbara region of Western Australia, including Jigalong, Telfer (Irramindi), the Warla (Percival Lakes), Karlamilyi (Rudall River) and Kumpupirntily (Lake Disappointment) areas. Outsiders only became aware of the Martu name and identity during the 1980s. Previously, many outsiders believed that the Pintupi, the eastern neighbours of the Martu, occupied the area. Most members of the Martu now live at Jigalong, Wiluna, Punmu Community,Parnngurr Community, and Kunawarritji.

There are 12 groups within the Martu, defined by their traditional languages: Manyjilyjarra, Kartujarra, Kiyajarra, Putijarra, Nyiyaparli, Warnman (or Wanman), Ngulipartu, Pitjikala, Kurajarra, Jiwaliny, Mangala and Nangajarra. All of these languages belong to the Wati subgroup of the Pama–Nyungan linguistic family. However, the first language for at least 11 of these 12 groups is now Martu Wangka – a hybrid of languages such as Kartujarra, Manyjilyjarra, and Nyangajarra. Some members of the Warnman people may still speak Wanman as a first language rather than Martu Wangka.

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