Language Groups in Goondir Service Region Goondir Health Service’s, service provision area covers from Warwick in the southeast, travelling west to Goondiwindi and St George, and then north to Yuleba, and then east to Kingaroy, and then back south to Warwick. Presently the National Native Title Tribunal has four (4) claims that covers the Goondir Health Services region: QC 99/04 Western Wakka Wakka People QG 99/05 Barunggam People QC 97/50 Mandandanji QC 91/06 Bigambul People The traditional boundaries that encompass the Goondir Health Services region were formed by many groupings of Aboriginal people. The custom of trading goods and ceremony, as well as the kinship ties between the various clans/ language groups allowed the members of the different groups to speak not only their own language, but they would also have been able to communicate with visitors to their district. The impact of early European exploration also had the effect of bringing other languages into their area. An example would be the practice by the early explorers of using Aborigines from the NSW’s Hunter Valley, and the Liverpool Plains district as guides, and they would have carried new languages and dialects into this region. The constant sharing of languages has led to present day confusion on what were the ‘traditional boundaries’ for the various clans/language groups. An example is Goondiwindi, as records show that it is situated within the boundaries of two (2) language groups, the Kamilaroi and the Bigambul. This confusion is evident in nearly every ‘Native Title Claim’. The most authoritative and comprehensive source for clarifying the confusion around clan/language boundaries is the Norman Tindale collection. Norman Tindale Information In 1921 anthropologist and entomologist Norman Tindale, began collecting information on Aboriginal people living on missions and government stations. By the end of the 1960s he had collected many photographs and recorded detailed genealogies of Aboriginal people all over Australia. The genealogical information includes up to three (3) generations of family names and, in some cases, tribal names, relevant moiety and totem. Tindale also collected the names and languages of the people living on these missions and stations. This information can be found in State Library of Queensland as the ‘The Tindale Collection’. Barunggam (Dalby, Miles, Oakey and Toowoomba) Alternative Names Barungam, Parrungoom, Murrumgama, Murrun-gama, Murrumningama, Kogai (this name is used also for the language of tribes to the west), Gogai, Cogai. Bigambul (Goondiwindi) Alternative Names Bigabul (valid variant used by one informant), Pikambul, Bigambal, Bigambel, Bee- gum-bul, Bigumble, Pikumbul, Pikumpal, Pikambal, Pikum-bul, Pickum-bul, Pickimbul, Pickumble, Picum-bul, Pikumbil, Begumble (['biga] = ['pika] == yes), Peekumble, Pickumbil, Picumbill, Preagalgh, Wigal-wollumbul, Wee-n' gul-la-m' bul. Kamilaroi (Goondiwindi) Alternate Names Kamilarai, Kamilari, Kamilroi, Kamilarai, Kamu-laroi, Kaamee'larrai, Kamileroi, Koomilroi, Komleroy, Gamilaroi, Gamilroi, Kahmilaharoy, Kamilary, Gumilroi, Gummilroi, Gummilray, Kimilari, Karmil, Kamil (['kamil] = no), Comleroy, Ghummilarai, Cammealroy, Kahmilari, Kakmilari (typographical error), Cumilri, Cam- ell-eri, Cum-milroy, Cummeroy, Gunnilaroi, K= no), Comleroy, Ghummilarai, Cammealroy, Kahml Duhai, Yauan (mystic language name), Tjake (mystic language name), Tyake. Mandandanji (St. George and Yuleba) Alternative Names Matjai (language name), Matjandji, Madyay, Mooka. Bundjalung aka Badjalang (Warwick) Alternative Names Badjelang, Budulung (paidjal = badjal = man), Buggul (g read as dj), Paikalyung, Paikalyug, Bandjalang, Bandjalong, Bunjellung, Bundela, Bundel, Widje (horde or hordes at Evans Head), Watchee, Woomargou. .