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Mparntwe (pronounced m’barn-twa), is the name for the Alice Springs area, whose traditional owners are the Arrernte (pronounced Arrunda). The Arrernte have lived in and around what is now known as Alice Springs for tens of thousands of years.
The Central Arrernte community is composed of three distinct Estate Groups: Antulye, Irlpme, and Mparntwe.
Arrernte is the language of Mparntwe (Alice Springs), that include the Eastern and Central Arrernte and are part of a group of languages that contain other varieties of Arrernte, as well as Anmatyerr, Alyawarr, and Kaytetye. It is a group often referred to as the Arandic group. The main communities where Eastern and Central Arrernte are spoken are Alcoota (Alkwerte), Harts Range (Artetyerre), Bonya (Uthipe Atherre), Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte), Amoonguna (Imengkwerne), and Alice Springs (Mpartntwe).1,2
There are many sites of significance to the Arrernte people in and around Alice Springs. From the ranges to the gorges and waterholes, there are traditional stories that describe the shaping of the landscape by ancestral figures. The Arrernte stories describe how the landscape surrounding Alice, such as the MacDonnell Ranges, was created by the actions of their ancestors, the caterpillar beings Ayepe-arenye, Ntyarlke and Utnerrengatye.
In Alice Springs there is the Ilwempe Sacred River Red Gum.
See our section on Emily and Jessie Gaps Nature Park.
Footnote & References
- A Learner’s Guide to Eastern and Central Arrernte, Revised edition, Jenny Green, IAD Press, Alice Springs, AIATSIS Mura Collections Catalogue
- Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation, https://www.lhereartepe.org.au/
Alice SpringsMparntwe Alice Springs Accommodation Alice Springs Pet Friendly Accommodation Alice Springs Art & Culture Alice Springs Attractions Alice Springs Directory Alice Springs Distance Alice Springs Festival & Events Alice Springs Flora and Fauna Alice Springs Fauna Alice Springs Flora Getting Around Alice Springs Alice Springs Aboriginal Tours Alice Springs Tours Alice Springs Tours – Other
Northern TerritoryCentral Australia Aileron Alice Springs Binns Track Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve Ernest Giles Road Finke Gorge National Park Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve Hermannsburg Historic Precinct Ilparpa Claypans Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve MacDonnell Ranges Mount Connor Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary Owen Springs Reserve Red Centre Way Drive Standley Chasm Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Watarrka National Park & Kings Canyon Wurre / Rainbow Valley