Dieri (SA)

LocationCooper Creek between Killalapaninna and near Coongie; at Cowarie, Mulka, Lake Howitt, and Lake Hope; south to Lake Gregory and Clayton River and low country north of Mount Freeling. Tradition indicates that Dieri formerly lived in what is now Wongkanguru territory, themselves having been displaced by Wongkamala. Five-named hordes are listed by Howitt (1904). They practiced both circumcision and subincision as male rites of initiation.
Co-ordinates139°0'E x 28°20'S
Area8,400 sq. m. (21,800 sq. km.)
ReferencesMeissel, 1871; Gason, 1874, 1879, 1888, 1895; Gason in Taplin, 1879; Fison and Howitt, 1880; Howitt, 1884, 1885, 1890, 1891, 1904; Kingsmill in Curr, 1886; East, 1889; Homann in Threlkeld, 1892; Wells, 1894; Helms, 1896; Stirling, 1896; Spencer and Gillen, 1897, 1904; Semon, 1899; Mathews, 1900 (Gr. 6448 and 6528); Eylmann, 1908; Planert, 1908; Leonhardi, 1908, 1909; Siebert, 1910; Strehlow, 1910; Giglioli, 1911; Brown, 1914; Spencer, [1914]; J. Reuther, 1914 MS (in So. Aust. Museum); Gatti, 1930; Elkin, 1931; Tindale, 1934 MS; Tindale in Fenner, 1936; Fry, 1937; Tindale, 1940; Berndt and Vogelsang, 1939, 1941 (2 papers); Reuther and Strehlow (New Testament in Dieri); Berndt, 1953; Trefry, 1970.
Alternative NamesDiari, Diyeri, Dieyerie, Deerie, Dieyrie, Dayerrie, Dthee-eri, Dickeri (misprint), Kunari (n.n. of Cooper Creek), Koonarie, Wongkadieri (Arabana term), Wonkadieri, Ti:ari (of southern Aranda), Urrominna (southern term for Dieri, Kujani, and Tirari-a general term).
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