Ngambri

The Ngambri people The Ngambri people are an Aboriginal group whose traditional country includes the area now occupied by Canberra and surrounds. The name "Canberra" is widely understood to derive from "Kamberri" or "Ngambri," connecting the city's identity directly to this ancestral group. The Ngambri share custodianship of the Canberra region with the Ngunawal people, and the relationship between these groups reflects the complex web of kinship and country that characterises Aboriginal societies across the region. Ngambri country encompasses the limestone plains, river valleys, and highland areas of the ACT region. Like their neighbours, the Ngambri participated in seasonal gatherings centred around the bogong moth harvests in the alpine areas and the rich resources of the Molonglo and Murrumbidgee river systems. The open grasslands and woodland of the Canberra plains were managed through traditional burning practices that maintained the landscape for both people and wildlife. Today, the Ngambri community continues to advocate for recognition of their distinct identity and their deep historical connection to the Canberra region. Cultural practices, language preservation, and the maintenance of connection to country remain central to Ngambri identity.