Ngiṉṯaka

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Ngiṉṯaka (Aboriginal pronunciation: [ŋiɳʈaka]), also spelled Ngintaku, is a giant perentie lizard Ancestral Being from Aṉangu and Pitjantjatjara religion and mythology. It is associated with Angatja, an area along an important songline.

Ngiṉṯaka is one of the two major reptile Ancestral Beings associated with Uluru, the other being Milpali.

Myth

Ngiṉṯaka's songline, known as Inma Ngiṉṯaka, tells of his journey of creation over 500km. The song’s stanzas follow his travels through the land, where he is portrayed with human characteristics.

In the myth, Ngiṉṯaka travels from his home near the Western Australia border to the camp of another lizard tribe, near Oodnadatta, in search of a better grindstone.^[1] He steals the Anangu grindstone and carries it home while being chased by the Anangu people. Along his journey, he digs up tjanmatjas (bush onions), creating large boulders.^[2] As he travels, he creates many landforms in the Musgrave and Mann Ranges and vomits up various grass seeds and vegetable foods.^[1]

Geography

According to mythology, Ngarutjaranya, the highest mountain in South Australia, is also Ngiṉṯaka as he rears up to look over the country. He is returning to his home in the west.

References

^ ^a ^b Hawthorne, Susan; Klein, Renate, eds. (1994). Australia for Women: Travel and Culture. Spinifex Press. p. 333. ISBN 9781875559275.
^ "The Ngintaka Dreaming – a journey into the Dreamtime – Paul Budde History, Philosophy, Culture". Retrieved 2022-09-10.

External links

MAKING TRACKS. Key issues about the heritage of Australian routes and journeys
Learning from the Land

Aboriginal peoples of South Australia

Peoples

Communities

APY Lands:	Amaṯa Iltur Indulkana Kalka Kaltjiti (Fregon) Kaṉpi Makiri Mimili Mintabie Nyapaṟi Pipalyatjara Pukatja (Ernabella) Umuwa Watarru Yunyarinyi
Other:	Akenta (Poonindie) Colebrook Davenport (Umeewarra) Gerard Killalpaninna Koonibba Nepabunna Oak Valley Point Pearce Raukkan (Point McLeay) Yalata

Notable people

Organisations

Religion and culture

Arkaroo 'Dreamtime' (muda, mura-mura, tjukurrpa, etc.) Tjilbruke Muldjewangk Ngiṉṯaka Wati-kutjara
Indigenous protected areas:	Watarru Mount Willoughby
Co-managed protected areas:	Dhilba Guuranda-Innes Elliot Price Conservation Park Gawler Ranges National Park Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park (part) Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park Lake Gairdner National Park Ikara–Flinders Ranges National Park Innamincka Regional Reserve Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park Mamungari Conservation Park Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area Nullarbor Regional Reserve Pureba Conservation Park Strzelecki Regional Reserve Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park Wapma Thura–Southern Flinders Ranges National Park Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park Witjira National Park Yumbarra Conservation Park

Languages

Adnyamathanha Antakirinja Arabana Barngarla Dieri Kaurna Narungga Ngadjuri Ngamini (Yarluyandi) Ngarrindjeri Paakantyi Wangkangurru Western Desert language (dialects: Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara) Wirangu Yandruwandha Yarli (Malyangapa) Yuyu
Language groups:	Lower Murray languages Thura-Yura languages Sign languages
Words:	Aṉangu (Western Desert language) Nunga (Aboriginal English)

Laws

Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 1966 Aboriginal Witnesses Act Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 Laws concerning Indigenous Australians
Cases:	List of native title claims in South Australia