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Wilyakali are an Australian aboriginal tribal group of the Darling River basin in Far West New South Wales, Australia. Their traditional lands centred on the towns of Broken Hill and Silverton and surrounding country. Today the Wilyakali people of Broken Hill are still the main Aboriginal group living in Broken Hill.
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Etymology of Wilyakali
Etymologically the word Kali has been attributed as meaning people and is incorporated in numerous tribal names of the Darling River valley, including Paarkantji (River People) Pantykali (Creek people) Bulali (Hill people) and Thangkakali. Hence the name would mean the Wilya people.
Wilyakali language
The Wilyakali language is part of the Paakantyi language family. Some scholars, however, considered it to be a dialect of the Yarli languages.
The language is considered to be largely extinct from the 1930s with only 23 speakers, and the last full speaker is considered to have been Ned Palpilina. An example of Walyakali speech is found here.
Traditional culture
Traditional Wilyakali appear to have exhibited strong ties with neighbouring tribes, with evidence of them travelling hundreds of kilometres, and receiving visitors from other tribes at ceremonies.
Traditional places of cultural significance include Mutawintji gullies.
Land corporation and modern cultural activities
In the 1980s the people formed the Wilyakali Aboriginal Corporation. This corporation today runs Poolamacca Station and has also gone on to negotiate mining deals, and Native Title Land Claims The Wilyakali, are also joint managers of the Mutawintji National Park which is the first national park handed back to the traditional owners in NSW.