Biography

Mimih Spirits
Aboriginal people in the rocky environments of western and south-western Arnhem Land tell
of the existence of tall slender spirits which they call mimih. The name mimih is well known
throughout the top end of the Northern Territory. Aboriginal groups living in the rocky
environments of western and southern Arnhem Land share mythology which relates to the
beings known as mimih. These groups include the Kunwok chain of languages, and also
Rembarrnga, Dalabon and Djawoyn language groups. Other groups of people with familial
and ceremonial links to rock country inhabitants are also familiar with the idea of the mimih. In
recent years the mimih has become a topic in the repertoires of some artists among the
Kunibidji people, speakers of the Ndjebbana language and the traditional landowners of the
Maningrida area.
The people of western Arnhem Land believe that Mimih spirits live in a social organisation
similar to Aboriginal people and that Mimih society existed before humans. Mimih are credited
with instructing the first people with knowledge relating to survival in the rocky environment of
the Arnhem Land plateau. Mimih are said to have taught the first humans how to hunt and
butcher game and also how to dance, sing and paint. The song and dance style of western
Arnhem Land Aboriginal people is still known today as mimih style. This term is also used by
Aboriginal people further east in Central Arnhem Land when describing the dance and song
of their western neighbours
Despite the usual depictions of mimihs as being benign towards humans. The mimih are like people
using the same kinship terms and speaking the same language as the local Aboriginal group.
They live in families like humans and it is said that some of these Aboriginal men with
mystical knowledge have spent time living with them in their camps.
Mimih are however, terribly thin, having necks so slender that a stiff breeze would be fatal.
For this reason they emerge only on windless days and nights to hunt. As soon as a breeze
develops, the mimih are said to run back to their rocky caverns and disappear inside