Idinji/Yidinji/Yidiny
Although Norman Tindale's Aboriginal Tribes of Australia places the lowland rainforest-dwelling Idinji/Yidinji/Yidiny (alternatively, Yidindyi, Yidin, Idi (abbreviation), Idin, Itti, Yettingie, Bolambi (a former leader), Yellingie (misreading of Yettingie), Mulgrave River dialect (Meston), Charroogin, Maiara (horde name), Myarah, Maimbi (horde), Djumbandji, Jumbandjie) on around 1000 square kilometres stretching north from Deeral through Gordonvale and Edmonton with an inland extension inland to Lake Barrine and Mount Hypipamee, their northern boundary is less clear. Their eastern boundary was on the crest of the Murray Prior Range.
The AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia places them on the coast, with the Djabuganjdji as their northern neighbours and the Djirbalngan to the west and south.
In post-contact times, a breakaway group usurped part of the Buluwai territory when they relocated to Redlynch and began calling themselves Djumbandji.
Robert M. W. Dixon has recorded a substantial part of their language, and notes that Yidiny is used both as a dialect name and a cover term for a group of dialects including Yidiny, Gunggay, Madjay and Wanjurr(u).
Although disruption and displacement in the post-contact era have confused the details, it seems that the Idinji comprised at least five subgroups, and possibly eight or more:
- The Gimuy-walubarra Yidi, in and around Cairns, the area they called Gimuy;
- The Wadjanbarra Yidi, in the low-lying rainforests on the Atherton tablelands, who spoke the tableland dialect of Yidiny;
- The Bundabarra Yidi in the uplands around Yungabarra;
- The Gulgibarra Yidi — the sand or seaside people— on the southern side of the Mulgrave river;
- The Wujnur/Bindabarra Yidi — the waterfall people — in the lush rainforest around Babinda and Fishery Falls;
- The Mandigalpi Yidi, the warrior clan on the eastern side of the Cairns inlet towards the Murray Prior Range and down to the Mulgrave /Russel estuary, who had a traditional alliance with the neighbouring Kunganji against the Mamu;.
- Badjabarra Yidi — the long grass people — on the tableland slopes behind Mt Bellenden Kerr;
- Mallanbarra Yidi — the flat rock/stony river people, — on the Mulgrave and Little Mulgrave Rivers around Gordonvale, with territory extending from the coast that included many ceremonial grounds and traditional meeting places.
Sources:
AIATSIS AustLang Project: Yidinj (Y117): https://aiatsis.gov.au/austlang/language/Y117
Cairns Regional Council: First People's history & languages: https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/experience-cairns/facts-figures-history/first-peoples-history
State Library of Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages map: Yidinji: https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/163?embed=true
Norman Tindale, Aboriginal Tribes of Australia
Wikipedia: Yidiny language: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yidiny_language
Wikipedia: Yidiny people: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yidiny_people
