Tjintji-wara

Tjintji-wara (c. 1860 – c.1950) was a Matuntara woman (Luritja) and leader of her people who was born at Walker Creek in the Palmer River, a tributary of the Finke River approximately from Alice Springs.

Life

Tjintji-wara's father was Patila and her totem was the Nyarua, which is also known as Horsfield's bronze cuckoo, which has a distinctive whistle. She spent much of her early life in this region and her earliest memories are of the Ilara waterhole there with her extended family during a period of severe drought. Tjintji-wara was able to return to her home country and, around 1893, Thornton left his role as the station manager and Tjintji-wara later married a man recorded only as 'Friday'.

When the drought broke Tjintji-wara again returned to her home and, some time later was sent back to the mission when she was unwell by the then manager of the station, for them to nurse her. However, she returned a short time later stating 'Too much soup! Too much Jesus!'.

Must of what is known about Tjintji-wara's life is from research done by historian Dick Kimber.