What is "yamatji"

Yamatji (or 'Yamaji' in the orthography of Wajarri) is a name commonly used by Aboriginal people in the Murchison and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia to refer to themselves, and sometimes also to Aboriginal people generally, when speaking English. The word comes from the Wajarri language where it has the meaning 'man' or 'human being'. It is usually used to mean 'Aboriginal person', but when being more specific the particular language group name will often be used, where this is known. Although each of the main Aboriginal languages of this region (as a group, known as the Kartu languages) have their own words for 'man/human being', Yamaji has come to be used throughout the region, probably because Wajarri is the strongest remaining language and was always the most widely spoken language.