Mbewum
Norman Tindale's Aboriginal Tribes of Australia placed the Mbeiwum (alternatively Kok Mbewam, Mbiywom, Mbe:wum, Mbeiwum, M-Berwum, Bywoom, Kokinno, Kokimoh) on about 1600 square kilometres on the Upper Watson River, around two hundred kilometres southeast of Weipa.
Their territory and that of the Totj were incorporated into a state-run pastoral station of Merluna in 1916. Ursula McConnel refers to the Mbeiwum meeting the Yinwum, Kandyu and Wik-ampama at Merluna cattle station and Mein Telegraph Station. Informants regarded York Downs and Merluna as being in Mbiywom country. The remnants of the group were subsequently relocated to communities around the tip of Cape York Peninsula including New Mapoon, Injinoo and Cowal Creek.
They spoke a dormant Northern Paman language described as Wik-Way (language difficult/hard) by people who lived south of the Archer River. Wik Ompom may refer to the same language.
Although data are scarce for this language—apart from location details provided by Kenneth Hale and Norman Tindale—the Endangered Languages Project suggests there are still people who identify with it and are working to revitalise it.
Links to add:
Watson River
Totj
Merluna
New Mapoon
Injinoo
Cowal Creek
Northern Paman language
