Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 56(2):63 1-634 (1997) 28 February 1997 https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.1997.56.61 A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF ANANGU KNOWLEDGE OF CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN INVERTEBRATES

1 2 1 Alan L. Yen , Jake , Gillen Richard Gillespie , Ron VanderwaH, and the Mutitjulu Community?

'Museum of Victoria, 71 Victoria Crescent, Abbotsford, Vic. 3067, Australia 2 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, PO Box 1 19, Yulara. NT 0872, Australia 3 28 Rinkora Road, Hawthorn, Vic. 3122, Australia 4 Museum of Victoria, 222 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia 5 CMA Ininti Store, Ayers Rock, NT 0872, Australia

Abstract

Yen, A.L., Gillen. J., Gillespie. R., Vanderwal, R. and the Mutitjulu Community, 1997. A preliminary assessment of Anangu knowledge of Central Australian invertebrates. Memoir.', of the Museum of Victoria 56(2): 631-634. There is a growing recognition that the knowledge of indigenous peoples can be invaluable in ecological studies and environmental management. While there is now an expanding

literature recording indigenous ecological knowledge, most of it focuses on indigenous knowledge of flora and vertebrate fauna, with only passing references to invertebrate fauna. This has also been true in Central Australia, where important recent studies of Aboriginal ecological knowledge have focussed on the relationships between vertebrates and flora.

There is only fragmented information on Aboriginal knowledge of invertebrates in Central Australia, primarily the use of invertebrates as a food source and linguistic studies that record invertebrate names. A project was initiated with Anangu from the Mutitjulu Com- munity at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, who speak Pitjantjatjara, to learn about their names for invertebrates, their knowledge on the biology of invertebrates, and their possible use of invertebrates as environmental indicators. The methods adopted in this project are outlined and some preliminary results presented.

Introduction erer societies of arid Australia also attributed

...... , environmental values to invertebrates. The existing literature on Aboriginal knowledge . , A recently in, ,ated survey of invertebrates at of invertebrates suggests that it is restricted to Uluru-Katan Tjuta National Park by he Museum those that are of economic value and to a few of Victoria provided an opportunity to under- invertebrates that are culturally significant, for take a collaborative project with the trad t.onaI example in creation stones. Aboriginal knowl- ? owners to record their knowledge ot he invert- edge regarding invertebrates .s primarily associ-

• the traditional j Tt... anwiiiiiv ebrate fauna. The Anangu,' ated with their use as a c^™™„a.food resource, especially - ? owners of this region of the Western Desert, had .- .• , . u .f \ n „j i,-^; m ,i„ unn«, ants,an tc ° witiuti (witchetty) and bardi grubs, honey . already been working with scientists and park molluscs and honev bees (Campbell, 1926; record their tradit.ona knowledge Tindale, managers to M^Keown, 1 944; Bodenheimer, 1951; of plants and vertebrate fauna as part ol the long- 1966- Calaby, 971; Tindale, 1981; Devitt, sustainable management of the park (Reid i^fwrrnatirm i« opnpral term 1989).ooo Often™ \hthisJ informal on is generalisedkeH Baker J9 The M itju , u of informa Jom d'fferent using a mix ure hon^ . Commum , ocated within uluru Kata T uta parts of Australia from ^rynal mbes ot drf- >• - ^ Qf B ^ ferent language groups, a "^ has been gathered f inv ertebrates Wlth the scientisls , without clear scientific 'dent.ficat.on of the f n jde h [wf^ invertebrates being named or described. This » * £ ^ demonstrate this has resulted in the use of a myrturej J^WAl af " atJ J knowledge of their land and **- p~ b applied nation- , coiiiniuiicommon iiunicsnames thatmai uahavew been i p try. h : in wn , cn tney care for tne]r coun ally: e.g., bardi and witjuti grubs. primary language of Anangu is Pitjantjat- From the point of view of western science. The jara, which is the language spoken in part of the in vertebrate diversitv and abundance suggests Western Desert region of Australia and encom- that they are a potentially very powerful group of passing the Great Victoria Desert, although the environ'mental indicators (New, 1 995), and it is in the Simpson and Gibson Deserts important to ascertain whether the hunter-gath- languages

631 .

632 A.L. YEN ET AL.

(e.g., Ngaanyatjarra, Ngaatjatjarra, Yankunyt- wara (Rosie Curtis). Assistance was provided by jatjara, Luritja and Pintubi) belong to the same the following trainee rangers: Narelle Tjimpuna

language group as Pitjantjatjara (Hobson, 1 990). Ah Chee, Akana Campbell, Nyinku Jingo, and A eonsiderable number of invertebrate names Peter Wilson (Kunmanara). had already been recorded in the Pitjantjat- There are several constraints in documenting jara/Yankunytjatjara to English Dictionary Anangu knowledge, and the issues involved (Goddard, 1992), based on earlier linguistic were discussed in more detail by Baker et al.

studies. The project at Uluru provided an oppor- ( 1 993) in relation to their work with Anangu on tunity to check some of the terms previously the vertebrate fauna at Uluru. The constraints recorded and to clear up some of the ambiguities include the following. and uncertainties in Goddard (1992). The Tjukurpa The aims of the project are to record Anangu The Tjukurpa is the 'Law' by which Anangu knowledge in three areas: ( 1 ) invertebrate names life is governed. It is information that outlines and their cultural classification; (2) observations relationships between all plants and animals, on the biology of these invertebrates; and (3) their relationship to the land, and their relation- information on the ecology of these invert- ship to human beings (Baker et al., 1993). This ebrates. This paper will focus primarily on the means that much of the biological or ecological process involved in documenting Anangu infor- knowledge about the behaviour and distribution mation about invertebrates and only a few pre- of plants and animals is knowledge of the Tju- liminary results will be presented. kurpa. There is a wealth of information in the Tjukurpa, but some is public information Methodology and some is restricted information. Restricted infor- The work was undertaken within the lands of the mation is nly available to those adults, who Mutitjulu Community at Uluru. Data recorded according to traditional Law, have the right to

was obtained by: know and manage it. In general, information

1 showing specimens (whether dead or alive) to about identification and description is within Anangu and recording their responses, and the realm of public knowledge (What is it?

2. walking around with Anangu in the bush and Where does it live? What does it eat/What eats letting them speak about invertebrates of their it?) fall into this category. Questions about choosing. relationships and origins may fall into the

Records were made on audio tape, notes were restricted category (Why is it called this? Why is taken in cross reference to the tapes, and photo- this the same as? How is this related to that?). graphs were taken of all invertebrates examined Age, sex and status of informants in this way. The intellectual property rights of While much of the information on the ecology the Anangu are protected by recognising that all of the land can be obtained from Tjukurpa, some information provided by them remains the is also accumulated through generations and property of the Mutitjulu Community and their through personal experience; what Anangu con- permission is required for future use. Further- sider to be true is the result of practical personal more, no information recorded will be made experience and religious/ceremonial training public until the Community verifies accuracy over their lifetime. Hence older and ownership of the information. members of the community generally possess greater knowledge The invertebrate research took place over 8.5- than younger members. Some types of knowl- day contact sessions in October 1 994 and March edge remain in the domain of either male or 1995, and a full day in October 1995. Anangu female members of the community. Hence the participants at each session ranged from two to amount and level of knowledge that is given may five, in addition to one to two trainee Aboriginal vary considerably depending upon the status rangers and an interpreter. The sessions were of the informants within the community conducted primarily in Pitjantjatjara, with an (e.g., deferring to elders; commenting interpreter. The information was provided by on matters in presence of members of the other sex). the following members of the Mutitjulu Com- munity: Trigger Derek, Imjuka (Jenny Watson), Language Mr Jingo, Mary Kayukayu, Alan Kcnda, Kata As with all studies involving different Kura, Edith Richards, Norman Tjakalyiri, languages, there are always the issues involving Johnny Tjalyiri, Barbara Tjikatu, Daisey Walk- different dialects, transcribing Pitjantjatjara about, Tommy Wangi, Billy Wara, and Witja- words into standard phonetically spelt forms. ANANGU KNOWLEDGE OF CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN INVERTEBRATES 633

and filtering information through a non-scien- (spiders and silk-spinning caterpillars), kawalpa tific interpreter. Words can fall from use for (stick insects and mantids) and mirin-mirinpa some time (months or years) following the death (crickets and cicadas). There is a small number of a person in the community whose name had a of general names for some invertebrate groups similar sound, and another new name will come such as wanka (spiders), mutu-mutu (beetles), into use (the Kunmanara factor). It is possible minga (ants) and maku (edible grubs). So far, that a particular word will become lost to the thirteen names for immature insects are known, language. and 10 refer to edible grubs belonging to either the Coleoptera (beetles) or Lepidoptera (moths). Culture There are undoubtedly many more Anangu Cultural differences undoubtedly influence names for invertebrates. In our brief work so far, the amount of knowledge obtained. Anangu are at least seven previously unknown names have willing to give information when working more been recorded. Some invertebrates simply do with smaller groups. They do not appreciate not have a name — and this is clearly stated by aggressive questioning, and the essence of Anangu on several occasions when specimens obtaining information is the willingness to were shown to them. with them, to observe, to learn and to spend time Patterns of classification approaching a west- respect the knowledge of elders. Our initial ern scientific perspective was as interesting as it was based on a fairly standard western approach was frustrating, knowing that the Anangu basis scientific one of showing specimens and asking for naming (and relationships between the taxa) and this often quickly led to bore- questions, may reside in the Tjukurpa and may never be classification and prin- dom. Western scientific revealed to science. Some of the more obvious irrelevant to Anangu, and they do not ciples are classificatory ingredients include: view invertebrate information with the cause- 1. Shape: e.g., kawalpa (stick insect and science; Anangu are effect principles of western mantid); in that the knowledge they possess is very firm 2. Sound: e.g., mirin-mirinpa (cricket/cicada); correct, often as a result of certain and 3. Products: e.g., silk production (wanka); Tjukurpa. 4. Utility value: more invertebrate groups have general names (e.g., ants = minga), but those or ones with nasty Results and discussion of greater economic value bites or stings (e.g., bulldog ants) may have vertebrates indi- Previous studies on plants and specific names. In the case of honey ants accurate botanical and cate that the extent of (tjala), there are names for different life his- by Anangu is zoological knowledge possessed tory stages, workers and repletes; and is based on pragmatic obser- formidable. It 5. Identifiable tracks and traces: while no of invert- vations. While the known number invertebrate names can be directly attributed to the number of ebrate words is small (relative to tracks or traces (with the exceptions of galls our preliminary work different invertebrates), and lerps), it is possible that those that make this area is suggests that their knowledge in characteristic tracks in the sand will be much greater than previously assumed. named because of the importance of tracks in the eyes of Anangu. Pitjantjatjara invertebrate names Pitjantjatjara The closest to a western scientific binomial The first observation about general classification system is the naming of edible invertebrate names is that there is no grubs. 'Maku' is the generic term for edible term for invertebrates or insects. To indicate grubs, but different types of maku are sometimes invertebrates as a group, reference is made by butter- indicated by the use of the name of the plant, listing several of them (e.g., flies, ants, e.g., maku lunki from Acacia kempeana and flies, spiders, snails, etc). maku punti from Cassia. There are at least two The Pitjantjatjara/English Dictionary (God- number of invert- different types of maku from the River Red dard. 1 992) has the following immature Gum; those found in the roots are maku ungan- ebrate words: adult stages (45 names), while those in the trunks or branches are galls psyllid lerps (1), scale gungu stages ( 1 3), insect (6), ilytjaliti or maku palkapiti. At least 24 moths (2), termite maku insects (2), silken webs or bag With the adult plant species in central Australia harbour maku nests (2), and honey ants (4-6). or (Latz, 1995). so there could be at least 24 differ- names, most correspond to the ordinal level ent maku names. It is interesting to note that above There are three names that are applied to wanka there is no corresponding number of names for invertebrates from different orders: 634 A.L. YEN ET AL.

it in adults of maku. Similarly, for example, adult know what the animal is before we can study Lepidoptera were of little interest to the Tzeltal detail. Indians of South America (Hunn, 1982), yet or as their larvae, which were important as food Conclusions pests of crops, were carefully sorted into 16 terminal folk taxa. Several questions arise from this study in terms of its scientific value. We are making a mistake if Anangu biological observations we strictly compare indigenous knowledge or Anangu possess a great knowledge of invert- folk classification with western taxonomy and ebrate tracks and traces, even of invertebrates systematics. Indigenous knowledge is more akin that were not of economic value to them. The to excellent field naturalist or field biologist hunting behaviour of wolf spiders, the web information, and this is entirely to be expected behaviour of argiopid spiders, the for- building because Anangu have grown up on the land and aging behaviour of centipedes and scorpions arc learn this information as part of their upbring- all well known to many Anangu. The builders of ing. various burrows arc known, as well as the struc- So what is the relationship between Anangu ture of the burrow systems and location of the names and the biological classification of west- animals within the burrows is usually known. ern science? Is there a one to one correspondence One interesting observation is the Anangu (and at what level?), or is there under differen- knowledge of different life history stages of tiation or over differentiation (are Anangu invertebrates. The existence of the egg stage is 'lumpers' or 'splitters'?). The preliminary often not acknowledged and live birth is invoked answer to this question is that Anangu primarily for a large number of in vertebrates. There is also name invertebrates in accordance with their a lack of recognition of metamorphosis; small need to do so. Some invertebrates simply do not grubs grow into big grubs, and small beetles grow have names, others have very general names, bigger beetles. The presence of mating pairs into while those of greater economic value have of insects (smaller males) is interpreted as the detailed names for the life history stages. This mother transporting the young on her back. This finding parallels similar studies of indigenous is area of great confusion, and even the an knowledge of invertebrates conducted elsewhere Pitjantjatjara verbs that describe metamor- (Meyer-Rochow, 1975; Sillitoe, 1995). phosis (Goddard, 1992) give conflicting mess- One issue that scientists need to consider is ages such as 'turn into immature moth,' 'burst the treatment of information that we consider to out of cocoon case and is a young moth' and "the be scientifically incorrect. How do you treat grub gets bigger and becomes a fully developed names that do not correspond with biologically grub.' valid categories? It is important that indigenous Anangu certainly possess a greater knowledge knowledge is recorded accurately, and it is up to on the biology and behaviour of invertebrates of scientists to determine why some of these economic use. For example, the larval, worker, indigenous interpretations have arisen. The replete and empty replete stages of the honey ant moral dilemma is whether scientists should see have separate names, as well as the entrances the information transfer as a one way or two way and chambers of the nest: there is also the rec- process. In a couple of instances when Anangu ognition that there is a dominant ant in the were given scientific information, their reac- colony. In the case of maku such as the witjuti tions varied from one of interest (and 'how did grub, it is acknowledged that the grub turns into you learn to obtain such information?') to a 'moth' or 'butterfly'. derision ('you don't know what you are talking Habitat preferences about!'). While work so far has concentrated on obtain- These observations are preliminary, but indi- ing information on the Pitjantjatjara names and cations are that there is a vast area of Anangu the biology of the named invertebrates, it is knowledge on the invertebrates. As long as dif- apparent that Anangu possess a wealth of infor- ferences with Anangu and scientific approaches mation on the habitat preferences. During the to invertebrates are recognised, then there is discussion sessions with Anangu, reference was much to be gained from Anangu that could be made to the occurrence of particular invert- very important in the long-term sustainable ebrates in relation to fire. This knowledge is of management of the arid Centre. In terms of the major importance in learning about the land, learning process, it is important that Anangu but as with western science, we first have to teach us in their own way in their own land. A ANANGU KNOWLEDGE OF CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN INVERTEBRATES 635

comment made by a senior man quoted by Baker Devitt, J., 1989. Honeyants: a desert delicacy. Aus- tralian Natural History 22: 588-595. et al. ( 1 993) provides a succinct summary of the 1992. Pitjantjatjara/Yanku- situation: Goddard, C, (compiler), nytjatjara to English Dictionary. Institute for 'I can't properly talk about the country, teach Aboriginal Development: Alice Springs. about the country unless I am in it, walking on it, Hobson, J., 1990. Current distribution of central Aus- touching it, looking at it.' tralian languages. Institute for Aboriginal Devel- opment: Alice Springs. Acknowledgements Hunn, E.S., 1982. The utilitarian factor in folk bio- logical classification. American Anthropologist 84: staff Uluru- The authors wish to thank the of the 830-847. for their assistance, Kata Tjuta National Park Latz, P., 1995. Bushfires & bushtucker: aboriginal especially Julian Barry. Linda Rive provided plant use in central Australia. IAD Press: Alice interpretation skills at some of the discussion Springs. sessions, and Lyn Baker provided valuable McKeown, K.C., 1944. Insect wonders of Australia. advice on protocol. John Broomfield and Angus and Robertson: Sydney. 1975. Local taxonomy and ter- Caroline Williamson provided invaluable assist- Meyer-Rochow, V.B., minology for some terrestrial arthropods in five ance in the field. The Museum acknowledges the different ethnic groups of Papua New Guinea and assistance of the Australian Nature Conser- Central Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Friends vation Agency, Australian Geographic, Western Australia 58: 15-30. of the Museum of Victoria, Gadsden Rheem New, T.R., 1995. Introduction to invertebrate conser- Packaging, Sarlon Pty Ltd, Stihl Pty Ltd and vation biology. Oxford University Press: Viscount Industries. Oxford. Reid, J., Baker, L., Morton, S.R. and Mutitjulu Com- and eco- References munity, 1992. Traditional knowledge logical survey equals better land management. Baker, L., Woenne-Green, S. And the Mutitjulu Com- Search 23: 249-251. munity, 1993. Anangu knowledge of vertebrates Sillitoe, P., 1995. Ethnoscientific observations on and the environment. Pp. 79-32 in: Reid, J.R.W., entomology and mycology in the Southern High- Kerle, J. A. & Morton, S.R. (eds), Ulurufauna: the lands of Papua New Guinea. Science in New distribution and abundance of vertebrate fauna of Guinea 21: 3-26. National Park, Uluru (Ayers Rock-Mount Olga) Tindale, N.B., 1 966. Insects as food for the Australian 79— N.T. Australian National Parks and Wildlife Ser- aborigines. Australian Natural History 15: 1 vice: Canberra. 183. Bodenheimer, F.S., 1951. Insects As human food. Dr. Tindale, N.B. 1981. Desert aborigines and the W. Junk: The Hague. southern coastal peoples: Some comparisons. Pp. climate in Abor- (ed), Ecological Calaby, J.H., 1 97 1 . Man, fauna, and 1853-1884 in: Keast, A. iginal Australia. Pp. 80-93 in: Mulvaney, D.J. and biogeography of Australia. Dr. W. Junk: The environment Golson, J. (eds), Aboriginal man and Hague. in Australia. Australian National University Press: Canberra. Campbell, T.G., 1926. Insect foods of the Aborigines. Australian Museum Magazine 2: 407-410.