Badimaya

The Badimaya people (also written Badimia) are an Aboriginal Australian people from the Mid West region of Western Australia.

Country
Traditional Badimaya country was calculated by Norman Tindale to encompass approximately 11,300 mi2, and is bordered by the Western Desert language groups of the Tjuparn and the Wanmala to the east, the Noongar to the south-west and Watjarri to the north-west.

This country covers Cue, Nannine and Mount Magnet to the north, Paynes Find to the south, Yalgoo to the southwest, and the northwest lay along the Sandford River.

Language
Badimaya belongs to the Kartu branch of the Pama–Nyungan family. It is a critically endangered language, however there is a strong language revival movement underway in the Badimaya community.

Social organisation and customs
The Badimaya were reported to practise both circumcision and subincision.

Conservation reserves
In February 2021, the creation of five new conservation parks in Badimaya country covering over 114,000 ha were announced by the Government of Western Australia, to be jointly managed between the traditional owners and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions' Parks and Wildlife Service. The allocated land includes portions of two former pastoral leases, Lakeside and Burnerbinmah, as well as Crown land at Kirkalocka and White Wells. There are many significant Aboriginal sites of significance as well as other historic sites.

Notable people

 * Julie Dowling

Alternative names and spellings
Names according to Norman Tindale:
 * Badimala
 * Badimara
 * Barimaia, Bardimaia, Badimaia
 * Bidungu (Watjarri exonym, meaning "rockhole water drinkers," implying shiftlessness)
 * Padimaia
 * Parimaia
 * Patimara
 * Waadal
 * Wardal