The Panyjima, also known as the Pandjima/Banjima, are an Aboriginal Australian people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Language The Panyjima speak the language also known as Panyjima, one of the Ngayarda sub-group of the Pama-Nyungan languages. The number of speakers was estimated in 2002 to be around fifty.
Country According to Norman Tindale, the Panyjima held sway over of tribal territory. They dwelt on the upper plateau of the Hamersley Range and as far south as the Fortescue River. Their eastern frontier lay at Weeli Wolli Creek, near Marillana. Their southern limits lay around Rocklea and on the upper branches of Turee Creek, as ran east as far as the Kunderong Range.
History of contact Pre-European contact, the highland Kurrama peoples pressured them out to shift east as far as Yandicoogina and the Ophthalmia Range, a movement which in turn drove the Mandara and Niabali eastwards.
Native title
The Panyjima people hold native title since 2014 over the asbestos-contaminated Wittenoom area, known as Ngambigunha by its people, and campaign for the area's clean-up by the Western Australian Government.
Alternative names Bandjima (western tribal pronunciation) Mandanjongo ("top people", Nyamal exonym for plateau people such as the Panyjima and the Yindjibarndi) Panjima, Pand'ima
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