Glossary

At Nanoff's recommendation I'm adding here a glossary of all the indigenous Australian terms in the game people might be confused about. Tried to make an additional screen in the game itself for this, but for now this will be a link in the About section.

Please request terms I've missed. I strongly recommend Dark Emu and Australian Dreaming: 40,000 Years of Aboriginal History for research on Aboriginal topics. 

Pronunciation note: most Aboriginal Australian languages use a retroflex glide, that is saying words with the back of the mouth (think stereotypical Indian accent). Furthermore, most "u"s usually convey a "a" sound (i.e. Bunyip) and some "r"s are silent, particularly before an "n" (i.e. in "Arrernte", "Arnhem"). "I"s almost exclusively represent an "ee" sound and "j"s are just as in "Joanne"; none of that "i" or "j" as discount "a" crap.

Ankotarinja: A divine ancestor of the Arrernte credited with the creation of most of their rituals.

Arrernte: An indigenous people from Central Australia, in particular the region where is now Alice Springs (Mparntwe). Though the picture of the outback hunter-gatherer, research suggests that they were pioneers of agriculture and could maintain relatively large settlements (see Mparntwe below). Often described as a "warrior culture", the Arrernte might have been among the few known Aboriginal Australian cultures with a "big man" system otherwise seen in Papua New Guinea and other parts of Melanesia (in short, a single person in power leading by example) as opposed to the non-hierarchical norm seen in most of the continent (and the clear-cut chiefs of the Gamilaraay), but this is controversial. Arrernte beliefs and spirituality observe a large variety of "magical" rituals, the most [in]famous being kurdaitcha. The very concept of Dreamtime comes from the Arrernte god Altjira due to missionary misunderstandings of his role as a creator god.

Artilla: The indigenous name for Mount Conner in Northern Australia. Despite its tropical location it is said to be inhabitted by an evil ice spirits known as Ninya, who are said to have camped there in ancient times. Some researchers take this as possible folk memories of glaciars in this mountain during the ice age.

Baiame: Also rendered Biame, Byamee among other spellings, he is the sky god of several Southeastern Australian religions and widely held to be a creator god and divine ancestor of the people. He is said to have emu wives (emus are a sky symbol of many Aboriginal cultures, several constellations described as emu-like and their eggs as the origin of the sun and moon) and is related to Daramulum as either his father or brother. Baiame is often equated with the Christian god by missionaries and like him you ought to not say his name in vain. Women are not allowed to see depictions of him or enter ritual spaces consecrated to him.

Black and red dogs: In Ngadjuri and Adnyamathanha stories the sun woman (Bila) decided to eat people for some reason so she sent a black dog and a red dog "in the form of men" to kidnap people for her to roast over her fireplace. The black and red dogs are a take on these demonic furries, being dingo-like creatures that look like they should be normal furries but with something off about them...

Boomerang: One of the most iconic objects in the world, what few people seem to know is that they had a variety of purposes in Aboriginal cultures. Returning boomerangs are the most famous ones (and even then you picture mostly the crescent shaped ones from the Kimberley region; see for example the cross shaped ones from Queensland), but South and Central Australia also see a variety of large non-returning ones used much like swords in other continents.

Budj Bim: A site in Southern Australia, formed from the remnants of a volcano that last erupted some 30 thousand years ago. A rather swampy region, this site is famous for it's artificial lakes built over 6,600 years BC which have been used for a sophisticated system of aquaculture revolving around short-finned eels. This in turn lead to one of the largest known Aboriginal settlements, and has since been nominated as a world heritage site.

Bunyip: A very iconic cryptid, originally from Wemba-Wemba stories (and in fact etymologically connected to Bunjil, the divine ancestor of the people of the eagle kinship). Nowadays envisoned as some sort of water monster, traditionally it's a term used for any sort of dark spirits, and research Karl Brandt suggests that it might be inspired by encounters (or distortions of second hand accounts of encounters) with cassowaries (hence all the cassowary noises in the soundtrack).

Coolamon: A type of bark vessel ubiquitous throughout the continent (albeit with lots of regional variants, of course). They are characterised by a boat-like shape, which is the key to their versatility since they can be tucked away easily.  They can be used to carry/store water, food, ochre, herbs and even babies as well as to cook food, making them roughly analogous to pottery, plates, containers and cribs in other continents. Largely replaced by said things in modern Aboriginal society, as they're now largely relegated to artistic and religious purposes.

Daramulum: A major deity in Southeastern Australian religions and in fact the main divinity in Yuin religion. His name (spelled in a variety of other ways as well like Dharramaalan or Darhumulan) literally means "one legged one" and indeed in the Elvina Tracks a depiction of him appears as a one legged humanoid with emu-like features in profile. Often said to be the son or brother of Baiame, he is a celestial deity that also has an emu wife, both forming parts of the Southern Cross constellation (Alpha Crucis in his case, the rest being the emu wife); however, several stories claim that he was trapped inside a tree and thus lives in the bush. Bullroarers are thus said to be the proper way to summon him, being made from the trees in which he is trapped. He is a shapeshifter and a legendary hero to the Yuin people; however, stories of him are sacred and thus hard to come by. Depictions of him are said to have been restricted to the kuringal rites themselves, which would make the Elvina Track painting a rare case of a permanent picture.

Dillybag: A type of hanging bag/basket made from woven plant fibers, largely used to carry things like feathers, seeds, ochre and fur. Mostly found in Eastern and Northern Australia. Names in the original languages include yakou, yibali and murkutu. Dillybag itself comes from the Jagera word dilli.

Dulagal: A monstrous hairy humanoid that haunts the forests in Yuin oral traditions, effectively analogous to the better known Yowie. The description of the Dulagal in Lands of Fire is based on sthenurine kangaroos, one toed abominations that haunted prehistoric Australia.

Gamilaraay: Also spelled Kamilaroi. An indigenous people of Southeast Australia, they traditionally have one of the largest territories of any Aboriginal people and currently are among the most populous surviving cultures. Described as a "warrior culture", warfare between Gamilaraay tribes is well documented, occurring not due to land but over perceived insults and women. Additionally they seem to have eschewed the more hierarchy-less condition of Aboriginal societies in favour of clear-cut leaders, the most famous being Gambu Ganuurru, the "red chief". The Gamilaraay worshipped Baiame above other gods (though in several stories the sun woman Yhi/Yarai is the de facto creator of the world) and are among the few Aboriginal Australian cultures with a clear god/spirit of evil, Marmoo.

Garkain: A creature from Yolngu stories that resembles a bird, a bat or a bird bat depending on who you ask. It lives on dense forests, jumping on bystanders and enveloping them with their wings. It is said to smell awfully, so you die once you take a good whiff. It then devours the people farted to death and leaves their ghosts to wander aimlessly forever, because apparently it wasn't enough of a dick already. No relation to the Witcher franchise no matter how much you protest.

Gum Cider: An alcoholic beverage brewed from gum resin. The production of gum cider is best documented among Aboriginal Tasmanians but is believed to have also occurred in mainland cultures in Southeast Australia. More exotic beverages include mixtures made from fermented wattle seeds and flowers in Western and Northern Australia.

Gunditjamara: Also spelled Gunditjmara; often referred to as Dhauwurd Wurrung, which might be the proper term depending on who you ask. They are the indigenous people of what is now Victoria, their most famous settlement being Budj Bim. As noted above, the Gunditjamara pioneered aquaculture before anyone else in the world, and sites like Budj Bim seem to have had enough excess eels to be trading hubs.

Gunyah: A generic name for Aboriginal dwellings. Most are fairly simple (which is why I didn't refer to the Budj Bim houses as gunyahs), being used as temporary shelters.

Inapertwa: Misshappen... things that the Arrernte gods created and then used to make all life on earth. Sometimes used as the Arrernte equivalent of totems; after all, different people were made from different Inapertwa that were also used to make other animals/plants.

Kinship: Most Aboriginal Australian societies did not have hierarchies, to the point that missionaries constantly whine about Aboriginals not getting the whole concept of "some people are more equal than others". Instead, most societies were the stage of a complex partioning system that dictated social interactions: who to marry, who to trade with, who to play marngrook with, et cetera. This permited a level of accountability and responsibility without people exploiting or dominating others. In the context of Lands of Fire, the kinship system is effectively depicted as the many species of furries, for the sake of simplicity as well as an allusion to the fact that many kinship systems had "totemic" animals.

Kundela: Also known as "killing bone", this is basically a one-time wand used by the kurdaitcha. Made from a bone (human, emu, doesn't matter) or wood, the kundela are made by submerging the object in carrion and/or faeces and attaching the hair of the victim with resin on its tip. To cap it off, they are infused with the intent to kill, usually by whispering into it. Upon meeting the poor bastard, the kurdaitcha points the kundela at them; so strong is the will infused in the object that the victim is said to will themselves to die. Upon the target being killed, the kundela is of no more use and discarded.

Kurdaitcha: A word simultaneously referring to a type of magic, the practioners of said magic and the shoes said people used amidst the Arrernte people. Death in Arrernte culture is seldomly assumed to be an accident, so the kurdaitcha are sent to deal with the murderer and kill them, effectively making them the executioners. The most well known ritual is the use of the kundela or "killing bones" but there are a variety of other creative rituals to figure out the guilty and to off them.

Kuringal: The manhood ceremony of the Yuin, as well as the name of the stages used for it.  Little is known about it, with several contradictory accounts. The basics of dancing and standing in front of fire and then having a tooth removed while other men sing and dance to ease the pain seem consistent enough, however, as is the construction of mounds for Baiame and Daramulum.

Malingee: An evil spirit whose specific originator culture I can't figure out. Said to come out at night (no such luck as long as the sun woman lives), they can leave you alone but sometimes they feel like stalking you and stabbing you with a knife. Fortunately they seem to suffer from some form of arthritis since you can hear their knees clacking.

Marmoo: The Gamilaraay god of evil. He is the enemy of the creator deity (depending on the story either Baiame or the sun woman Yhi/Yarai); envious of their power, he created all insects, worms and arachnids to destroy all life, which probably explains why Australia is full of venomous spiders. The goddess Nungeena created birds to eat all the invertebrate pests, but Marmoo countered by corrupting the cuckoos and making them destroy the hatchlings of other birds. Concerned with nothing but the destruction of the world, he is a douche.

Marngrook: Also spelled Marn Grook. Of Woiwurung origin, this term applies to most Southeast Australian ballgames. Other than punt kicking it really has no consistent rules; the winner is even decided by majority vote. In some cultures you can only play marngrook with/against other people of the same gender or kinship, but its okay because the same lack of rules is universal.

Message Sticks: A form of proto-writing, if not true writing flat out (though with no deciphered script). To communicate with other tribes,  Aboriginal Australians carved cylindrical wood objects with symbols, which would then be read by the people they were messaging. Individuals carrying message sticks were treated with diplomatic immunity and were greatly respected, often marking their role by carrying the message sticks at the end of a pole so all could see.

Moth meat cake: A type of cake made from grinded up caterpillars (and more rarely adult moths/butterflies). Bogong moths (Agrotis infusa) were used in South Australia, while Utnerrengatye (Danaus species, aka aussie relatives of the famous Monarch butterfly)  were used by the Arrernte. Fat from these insects was also used for decorative purposes, since it can glow apparently. You might be repulsed but remember that european colonists made pies from parrots, so you have no moral high ground.

Mparntwe: The Arrernte name for the region where Alice Springs is located. In precolonial times it was their cultural center as well as a region of relatively large (albeit non-permanent) settlements subsisting on bush onion, millet and sporocarp agriculture (with Utnerrengatye catterpillars being arguably domesticated as well).

Nadubi:  A creature from Yolngu stories that looks like a deformed human-dog thing with spikes on its elbows and vulva. Haunts people at night (no such luck with the sun woman around).

Ochre: Basically pretty sand. Aboriginal Australians are far from the only people to use ochre, but they are perhaps most strongly associated with its applications out of everyone on earth. Traditionally ochre serves a dual role as protection against sunburns as well as self-expression in bodypainting as well as normal painting. Ochre may be applied in a variety of ways, but to avoid the concerns raised by Anakin Skywalker it is recommended that you mix it with emu fat or, failing that, your own spit.

Papinijuwari: A race of one-eyed star giants from the cultures of the Tiwi Islands. They are said to constantly harass the mortal realm by manifesting as falling stars (either the fire from their torches or the light of their luminous eyes depending on who you ask) and causing plagues by licking your wounds and entering them. Honestly, asteroid cyclopes on steroids is the most rad way to explain the concept of disease, especially since the advice (keep your wounds clean) is scientifically proven to be true.

Paperbark: Bark from Melaleuca quinquenervia and sometimes other trees like wattle and gum. Thin yet sturdy, it is used for a variety of things from coolamons to wrapping things (be it eels or the defleshed bones of the dead) as well as a medicine to treat colds and headaches.

Penile Subincision:  A practice done in most though not all Aboriginal Australian cultures (as well as cultures elsewhere in Polynesia, South America and German porn sites), usually during manhood ceremonies. Because the practise has been discontinued in the 1950's by colonizers nobody really knows why it was performed in the first place. Accounts suggest a variety of motives from imitating the female vulva as a form of solidarity to imitating the bifurcated penises of marsupial and monotreme prey to simply making the penis larger. Regardless the end result is that men have to squat to pee. At least among the Lardil it was associated with a ceremonial language known as Damin, the only language outside of Africa to have clicking consonants.

Rakali: The largest of Australia's many rodent species, the Rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster) is an aquatic omnivore occupying a similar niche to otters elsewhere. They are mostly nocturnal, yet are rather brightly coloured (their scientific name means "gold bellied water rat" in Latin). Often killed by dumb aussies who mistake it for normal rats.

Rainbow Serpent: Commonly thrown about as an Aboriginal deity, the rainbow serpent is more accurately described as a motiff more than anything else, since this term covers many unrelated deities. Common characteristics nonetheless include an association with water and fertility, as well as the use of opals and seashells to summon them. Specific rainbow serpent deities referred include Yurlungur (from the Yolngu, a "great copper python" envisoned as a sort of cosmic life force, with a myth where it wakes up to eat a random woman due to her period), Wonambi (from Southeast cultures, an intersex fertility deity who got an extinct snake genus named after it) and Garriya (from the Gamilaraay, a water monster that's basically a snake acting like a crocodile).

Sea Eagle: Referring to the White Bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), a large bird of prey found in both Oceania and Southeast Asia. They are closely related to the North American bald eagle, and like it are piscivores that capture prey in both fresh and salt water (hence the name). The sea eagle is highly revered by several Aboriginal Australian cultures, being considered the divine ancestor of several. One, the Mak Mak of what is now Darwin, even have the exact same name as their word for the bird.

Smoking tree: Hollowed out trees used by the Gunditjamara and other cultures to smoke food, most notably eels.

Sun Woman: Almost all Aboriginal Australian cultures invison the sun as a woman, in contrast to the Greco-Roman and Chinese notions that the sun is masculine. The sun goddess plays a vast variety of roles depending on the specific culture, from the creator of the world to a demonic devourer of the people. The sun woman of Lands of Fire is based on Bila (Ngadjuri and Adnyamathanha) in her role as a cannibalistic villain, on Gnowee (Wotjobaluk) in terms of her backstory, and Wala (Yolngu) in terms of her multi-armed apparence. The kookaburra is frequently associated with the sun as it was believed that its laughter made the sun rise (roosters, take notes), so she's a kookaburra furry.

Sword-club: A club shaped like a sword. Actually, just calling these "wood swords" would suffice since they're pretty much used like swords in other continents, having a slicing blade. Mostly seen in Queensland; in other areas non-returning boomerangs and spears are more common.

Whowhie: A giant lizard with six limbs from the cultures surrounding the Tongala river (nowadays known by the much stupider name Murray). Said to stalk people and eat them in their sleep. May or may not be based on the extinct giant lizard Megalania.

Woomera: A wooden tool found ubiquitous throughout Australia (as with the coolamon, regional variants are abundant). Typically used as a spear thrower, acting as an extension of the arm and allowing the spear to be thrown further out, but in Central Australia they also function as other tools such as knives or shovels. In other words, a swiss army knife that also shoots spears. A town is named after it, likely because of how awesome it is.

Yara-ma-yha-who: Frequently called "Australian vampires", these are actually mega-ugly frog things ubiquitous in Australian oral traditions (I'm pretty sure they're from a specific culture, but research is rather unhelpful on figuring out which one it was). They are red skinned bastards that hide in fig trees during the day, then jump on you and swallow you, then regurgitate you. They repeat this enough times to turn you into one of their own. Most of their victims are children, because why not. If you play dead until sunset you can avoid them.

Yawkyawk: The sea gods of Bininj Gun-Wok people. They are often described as the Aboriginal version of mermaids, being half-women half-fish creatures with seaweed hair, but they can shapeshift into virtually any aquatic animal, such as crocodiles and dugongs. They can be appeased to bring life giving rains, but will also bring sea storms if pissed off. Because of their association with water they are invisioned as the daughters and/or consorts of the Bininj Gun-Wok version of the rainbow serpent, Ngalyod.

Yolngu: The indigenous people of Arnhem Land. Best known for their extensive pre-colonial contact with Southeast Asian traders like the Makassans, up to including a deity based on Allah, Walitha'walitha, and fire power before Europeans arrived. Their solar goddess, Wala, is often depicted with multiple arms, the inspiration for the sun woman's multi-limbed form. Nowadays, most Yolngu are Christian or Muslim, but there is no shortage of Yolngu music and art honouring their culture's past, My Sweet Takirrina being the crowning achievement.

Yuin: An indigenous people living in Australia's Southeast Coast, most promeniently in the region adjacent to Mount Gulaga, their sacred mountain. Primarily subsisting on coastoal resources with occasional hunting and agriculture, the Yuin are notable for having formed a symbiotic relationship with orcas, hunting whales alongside them as early as 10 thousand years ago and as recently as the 1920's (you can blame western whalers for the end of that); known as the "law of the tongue", this relationship resulted in orcas getting the lips and tongue of the killed whale while the Yuin got the rest of the body. Besides this, the Yuin are characterised by a religion focused on Daramulum as well as on "totems" (they don't like that term, but it's allowed for the sake of simplicity), animal symbols of their kinships, genders and patriarchal lines.