The Alyawarre, also spelt Alyawarr and also known as the Iliaura, are an Aboriginal Australian people, or language group, from the Northern Territory. The Alyawarre are made up of roughly 1,200 associated peoples and actively engage in local traditions such as awelye painting.
Norman Tindale's estimate in 1974 assigned to the Alyawarre traditional tribal lands extending over some 17,800 square miles (46,000 km2), taking in the Sandover and Bundey rivers, as well as Ooratippra, and Fraser creeks. Notable sites associated with their nomadic world include Mount Swan, northern flank of Harts Range, Plenty River north and west of Ilbala, Jervois Range, Mount Playford and the Elkedra River. They were also present at MacDonald Downs and Huckitta.[1]
C. L. Yallop estimated the Alyawarre community to number 500-600 people in 1969. They were mainly concentrated at Lake Nash, the Georgina River, McDonald Downs, on the Bundey River, and the Warrabri Reserve.[4]
In the 2016 Australian Census, there were 347 Alyawarre recorded in the "Utopia - Arawerr - Arlparra" Indigenous location. Only 4% of households only spoke English at home.[5]
In 1980 the Alyawarre made a land claim together with the Anmatyerre for the Utopia pastoral lease.[6] In the same year, the lodged a claim along with the Wakaya people for land around the remote outstation of Purrukwarra. As a result, they were handed back 2,065 square kilometres (797 sq mi) on 22 October 1992, while the Wakaya were given 1,874 square kilometres (724 sq mi), both only small parts of the original claim.[7]
Office of the Aboriginal Land Commissioner (1981). Anmatjirra and Alyawarra land claim to Utopia pastoral lease. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN978-0-642-05076-2.
