Every Yindjibarndi person belongs to one of four Galharra (skin groups) – Banaga, Burungu, Balyirri or Garimarra.
A lot of business in the community follows people’s Galharra relationship to one another. Take our Birdarra Law ceremony for example, it is run by strict rules which guide everyone in the part they have to play during the ceremony. Each person understands their job by knowing their Galharra relationship to the boy going through the Law.
Our Galharra is the most important part of the Law passed to us by the Marrga during the learning times. A baby’s Galharra is decided by the Galharra of his or her parents and according to the Law there are special rules of marriage between Galharra groups.
A Banaga man must marry a Burungu woman and all their children are Balyirri. A Burungu man marries a Banaga woman and their children are Garimarra.
On the other side, Garimarra men must marry Balyirri women and their children are Burungu. Balyirri men marry Garimarra women and their children become Banaga.
All things in the world have Galharra – plants and animals, the stars, sun, wind and rain, all sacred sites and permanent pools belong to one of the four Galharra groups and are therefore in relationship to us in the same way as an uncle, cousin or parent.
