Barkindji

Barkindji are an Aboriginal Australian people of western New South Wales. Their traditional country lies along the Darling River floodplain in the lower Darling basin, with core territory around the Menindee area and the surrounding riverine lakes.

The Barkindji language is part of the Paakantyi language group. In contemporary communities, Barkindji people commonly speak English as well, and there are ongoing efforts to preserve and revitalize language and cultural traditions.

European colonization from the mid-19th century brought profound disruption to Barkindji life, including land dispossession, disease, and changes to river-based subsistence tied to the floodplain, fisheries, and seasonal cycles. These changes affected social structures, mobility, and access to traditional resources.

Today, Barkindji people are recognized as traditional owners of parts of the Darling River region. They participate in native title processes, land and water management initiatives, and cultural heritage work to maintain songs, stories, and ecological knowledge of the river country. The Barkindji community continues to engage with contemporary Australian society while seeking to preserve their cultural and environmental connections to the Darling River system.