Aboriginal Way | Issue 98 | Autumn 2025

Issue 98

Autumn 2025

A publication by South Australian Native Title Services

www.nativetitlesa.org

Construction underway on Purrkanaitya Elders Village A sod-turning ceremony was held in late March to launch construction of the long-awaited Purrkanaitya Elders Village at Warriparinga/Bedford Park.

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Lowitja – A Life of Leadership

Repatriating Ancestors and healing

Umeewarra Downtown 2025: a

Audrey’s Story

and Legacy

communities: reconnecting Aboriginal

celebration of culture, truth-telling, and

people with their heritage

30 years of leadership in Port Augusta

Aboriginal Way South Australian Native Title Services

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Kids on Country

Groups of young Aboriginal people are learning more about Country by heading out to remote nature reserves for 5-day camps through the Nature Foundation’s Kids on Country junior ranger program.

High school students are mentored by Traditional Owners as they engage in practical on-Country studies in conservation and land management through a SACE-accredited course which also involves classroom study and online learning.

Nature Foundation’s CEO, Alex Nankivell, highlighted that since launching in 2016, Kids on Country has become a sought-after program for schools, with enquiries from across Australia.

“Through this program, young Aboriginal people build skills for personal growth and development, strengthen cultural identity, build employability skills and foster a desire for learning. This all positively impacts students’ commitment to, and capacity for, engagement in education,” he said.

“They learn about ecology and geology of the area, which increases their understanding about the environmental issues facing our communities. They also learn that they can make a difference to their environment and their community, all while spiritually connecting to land.”

The camps are a mixture of cultural stories, life skills such as car maintenance, fence repair and cooking kangaroo tails over a campfire and conservation projects such as bird and animal surveys. Nature Foundation saw how well students responded during their first trial camp and won a 12-month philanthropic grant to continue.

Since then, Nature Foundation Youth Programs Coordinator for Kids on Country, Katie Perry, said it has

grown from strength to strength as they’ve refined what they can offer through successful grants and focusing on becoming a culture-first program.

“Before then there was culture, but it wasn’t at the forefront; it was more about conservation and inspiring young people to think about careers in conservation. Now culture is at the forefront,” she said.

“Since Warren and I came on board, we’ve run 46 camps and had 543 Aboriginal young people come through from schools across the state.”

Narungga and Adnyamathanha man Warren Milera works as Youth and Conservation Officer with the Kids on Country Program and said, “you’ve got to be there to witness the transformation that takes place in students over the five days.”

“They walk out feeling taller, prouder and with more belonging, not only to one another and where they come back to, but we say even if the Country is not your Country make yourself at home,” he said.

“They walk away with that feeling of pride and identity but also with a bit of culture under their belt and the perks that come with participating such as 10 points towards their SACE.” LeFevre High School has participated in the program from the beginning and recently sent a group of all female students out for a camp at the Nature Foundation’s Witchelina Nature Reserve in remote northern South Australia.

Sophie, a young Kokatha woman in Year 12 at LeFevre High has been attending Kids on Country camps since year 8, and says they are her only opportunity to get out on Country and learn about her cultural heritage there.

“It’s just an amazing camp. You get to spend time out with people you wouldn’t necessarily talk to and learn new things, especially touching on the conservation and just being out on Country,” she said.

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Aboriginal Way Editor: Keith Thomas Journalists: Joy Lothian, Isaac Selby

“Learning about how our Ancestors used to look after the land, and cultural talks there as well as what we can do now to help preserve the land.

“These camps are great for building relationships; the first day we get off the bus, everyone’s a bit shame you know, but by the end of the week no one wants to leave.

Everyone’s comfortable laughing and, as Uncle Warren said, standing tall and proud.”

Lina Ruggiero, an Aboriginal Education Teacher who’s been at LeFevre High School for 23 years has been involved in the camps from the beginning and said the school is very appreciative of the opportunity because it’s difficult to fund these types of experiences.

“We run school camps too, but they can be expensive, which can exclude some students, whereas these camps are fully funded to the school and the students, which is great. The school contributes staff, so there’s that cost, but the opportunity and experience is so valuable that we always try to make them happen,” she said.

“I reckon people come back and they’re a little bit different. And in fact, I had a parent say to me the other day that his daughter came back, and she was a different girl, a bit more confident, a bit more sure of herself, which is really special because that’s not a deliberate outcome. They’re there for all sorts of other things. But in terms of social and identity, it’s huge.”

Isabella, a year 10 Kaurna student said she didn’t particularly want to go before heading off on camp; she certainly didn’t think she’d enjoy being away from technology, but that turned out to be one of her favourite parts.

“Maybe being off the technology with no service out there changed my mind and perspective on the whole thing,” she said.

Listen to this episode of Aboriginal Way “Kids on Country” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

IT’S JUST A GREAT EXPERIENCE, AND SO DIFFERENT FROM A REGULAR SCHOOL CAMP. YOU JUST LEARN SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU WOULD IN A CLASSROOM ON ABORIGINAL HISTORY.”

Communications Officer: Caleb Sweeting Design and Printing: We Create Print Deliver Advertising Enquiries: aboriginalway@nativetitlesa.org Aboriginal Way is a publication of South Australian Native Title Services Level 6 27 Currie St Adelaide SA 5000 www.nativetitlesa.org Ph: (08) 8110 2800 Fax: (08) 8110 2811 FREECALL: 1800 010 360 If you have any stories of interest to our readers, please address correspondence to: aboriginalway@nativetitlesa.org The Editor has the final decision on all stories and advertising that appear in this publication.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following publication may contain images, names, and stories of deceased persons.

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Letter from the Editor As we approach the mid-point of 2025, SANTS has been working to develop a publication, an exhibition and an event to align with the commemoration of 30 years of native title in South Australia.

This significant period has seen acknowledgement of Aboriginal people’s interests developed in tandem with the state government and legal systems of the day, with key involvement from a wide range of Traditional Owner groups, organisations and individuals.

We believe it is an adequate time to reflect after 30 years, with much of the state now covered by native title, but still a way to go on the journey.

Virtual reality (VR) footage and photographs from native title determinations will be displayed in a foyer exhibition at the Museum of South Australia, sourced from archival photography and video shoots with Elders sharing their stories on Country.

This is scheduled to commence August 8 and will run for a month (the VR only at weekends). We encourage members of the public to visit and gain key perspectives into stories told by Traditional Owners.

During these events, people will be able to pick up a special edition of Aboriginal Way, likewise marking 30 years of native title, featuring interviews, photographs and informative pieces on all PBCs established in SA. We wanted to spotlight the wide array of Traditional Owners located across the state, in a singular document for involved people to look back on, that would also be accessible for those wanting to find out more about the history of native title more broadly.

We’ve asked groups for feedback on what they’ve learned so far during their journey - pre, during and post-native title claims.

On August 23, SANTS will host a private gala dinner, inviting representatives from PBCs around the state, alongside key personnel with personal involvement in the process of establishing and managing native title interests, while also acknowledging the integral roles played by those no longer with us.

If you have been involved over the past 30 years and wanted to contribute to the publication you can reach out to aboriginalway@nativetitlesa.org Keith Thomas SANTS CEO

Tarrkarri still looking for funding amidst $80 million arts grants South Australia’s first 10-year Cultural Policy, A Place to Create, has been announced by the Malinauskas Government, which includes more than $2.3 million directed into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture.

This funding is part of an initial investment of $80 million from the State Government over four years, as Arts South Australia is rebranded as CreateSA. Premier Peter Malinauskas said the investment will formally enshrine our state as a place where people can live, work and create.

“South Australia has long been a hub of arts and culture, but this didn’t happen by chance – it was built through deliberate effort,” he said.

“This policy will serve as a blueprint for supporting artists in their essential work of strengthening our community, fostering creativity and shaping a vibrant and hopeful future for our state.”

Arts Minister Andrea Michaels said A Place to Create recognises the vital role artists and creatives play both culturally and economically in SA. The Aboriginal arts and culture gallery Tarrkarri was omitted from the new policy however, with Premier Peter Malinauskas maintaining that “the Tarrkarri dream for us is still alive”, before stating that further funding partners would be needed for it to progress further.

NOT ONLY DO THEY ENTERTAIN US, INSPIRE US AND BRING US JOY EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH THEIR MUSIC, PERFORMANCES, FILM, WORKS OF ART AND SO MUCH MORE, THEY ALSO CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN $1.8 BILLION TO OUR STATE’S ECONOMY EACH YEAR,” ARTS MINISTER ANDREA MICHAELS.

Native title claims update Active claims Ngarrindjeri - consent determination scheduled for later this year

Introducing SA Native Title Services’ new logo South Australian Native Title Services (SANTS), the publisher of Aboriginal Way, is excited to share its new logo, designed in collaboration with Ngarrindjeri artist, Jordan Lovegrove.

The new logo symbolises South Australia’s Traditional Owners, their deep connection to Country and the organisation’s commitment to supporting their journey towards self-determination.

The colours reflect the diverse landscapes of South Australia – from the red desert to the green hills and the waters in-between. The semi-circles represent Elders sharing knowledge with younger generations, while the footprints represent progress and building on native title.

SANTS delivers specialised services to Traditional Owners, including administration, research, legal, finance, corporate & community development, human resources and communications. To access our services, contact enquiries@nativetitlesa.org.

Nunga Screen Across National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week, Country Arts SA is hosting Nunga Screen, a free film event celebrating First Nations’ culture, stories and language.

This year’s selection of short films include stories of history, healing, belonging, community and connection to Country across documentary and scripted formats.

The first half of the program before the interval is suitable for all ages.

Check out the closest free screening to you at: www.countryarts.org.au/events/nunga-screen-2025/

Arabana 2 - High Court appeal was successful - remitted to Full Federal Court Far West Coast sea claim - judgement to be delivered on 24 April 2025 First Nations of the South East 1 and 2 consent determinations scheduled for later this year First Peoples of the River Murray and Mallee 2 - consent determination negotiations ongoing Malyangapa - consent determination negotiations ongoing AMYAC Compensation - mediation ongoing

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Update

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New Aboriginal Knowledges Centre announced by University of South Australia A new purpose-built centre for Indigenous ideas and perspectives has been announced by the University of South Australia, soon to merge with and be renamed Adelaide University.

Yaitya Ngutu Wardli, meaning Aboriginal Knowledge House in Kaurna language, is expected to be completed in 2026, the year of the merger.

The centre will be supported by a $2.5 million donation from the Wood Foundation, alongside additional university funding.

UniSA’s Lewis O’Brien / Yarlupurka building in its City West campus will be completely redeveloped to house the centre, with dedicated indoor and outdoor spaces aiming to create a supportive, welcoming environment.

Kaurna/Narungga man, Uncle Frank Wanganeen, is a member of UniSA’s Purkarninthi in Residence Elders group and said the centre will be a place for students, staff and the community to come together to “foster an appreciation and understanding of Aboriginal knowledges and cultures”.

“It will be a dedicated space for gathering, for yarning and teaching, celebrating and participating in a wide range of cultural activities,” Uncle Frank said.

The space was designed by Jefa Greenaway, a Wailwan/ Kamilaroi designer from Greenaway Architects and Paul Herzich, a Kaurna/Ngarrindjeri designer from Mantirri

Design, working with Swanbury Penglase, an Adelaide Architecture Practice.

The aim is for the centre to be anchored in an understanding and deep appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ connection to Country.

UniSA vice chancellor Marnie Hughes-Warrington AO said the centre “will play a strategic role in bringing communities together for events progressing the recruitment, retention and progression of Aboriginal students, researchers and educators.”

“It will facilitate two-way knowledge sharing and mutual respect, promoting First Nations and nonAboriginal peoples to engage collaboratively,” she said.

“It will help to amplify Aboriginal knowledges, cultures and communities and accelerate our ambitions for Aboriginal success.”

The new centre at City West adds to dedicated Aboriginal spaces planned or completed across UniSA’s campuses including student support centres and yarning circles at Mount Gambier, Mawson Lakes and Whyalla campuses.

The Wood Foundation supports a diverse range of projects that include improving access to education, supporting women and girls experiencing disadvantage, enhancing the environment and addressing inequality.

Projects they have supported have included The Smith Family’s Learning for Life with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children for several years, the Ngampa Aboriginal Scholarship with UniSA, revegetation and

Plans of new Aboriginal Knowledges Centre.

Plans of new Aboriginal Knowledges Centre.

YAITYA NGUTU WARDLI WILL BE A PLACE OUR PEOPLE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD A LONGLASTING IDENTITY ON KAURNA LAND AND WILL ACKNOWLEDGE OUR CULTURE IN A RESPECTFUL WAY. SOMETHING FOR OUR YOUTH AND FUTURE GENERATIONS TO CONTRIBUTE TO AND BE PROUD OF. A PLACE TO SEE OUR CULTURE AND OUR PEOPLE’S ACHIEVEMENTS CELEBRATED,” SAID DR UNCLE LEWIS YARLUPURKA O’BRIEN AO, SENIOR KAURNA ELDER, FELLOW OF UNISA AND MEMBER OF THE PURKARNINTHI IN RESIDENCE. other land care or restoration projects and Catherine House on Kaurna Country. They seek to build community and connection and provide First Nations children with educational opportunities.

Wood Foundation director, Anna Wood, said they were “deeply honoured” to support the establishment of the Aboriginal Knowledges Centre.

Ms Wood was personally inspired to donate funding towards the program after witnessing impactful Welcome to Country ceremonies performed by Kaurna and

A $2.5 million donation from the Wood Foundation, along with additional university funding, will support the centre.

Ngarrindjeri Elders and after witnessing backlash from the failed 2023 referendum to establish a Voice to Parliament.

She also cited reading Thomas Mayo’s book ‘Always Was Always Will Be’ as influential over the decision. “This meaningful initiative aligns closely with the foundation’s mission and holds special significance to the Wood family.

It is especially close to my heart, and I hope it inspires others,” she said.

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Lowitja – A Life of Leadership and Legacy

During her childhood, Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG was told that she would never amount to anything - she went on to be described as “the greatest Aboriginal leader of the modern era.” sent to Victor Habor to become a domestic servant for a family who lived there, looking after their children, as many girls around her age from the home did.

“They knew before they reached that age that that’s what they would be going to do,” said Ms Edwards.

“But Lowitja was absolutely not going to being a domestic servant as far as she was concerned. She told the matron this who said, ‘well, you’ll soon be pregnant, and you’ll amount to nothing’. That became the driver for her whole life.”

It was when she was looking after those children in Victor Harbor, as she had no other choice, that she discovered the South Coast District Hospital, where, with some help she managed to get her foot in the door and start two years of training as a nurse.

She wanted to nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH), but its policy at that time meant that it wouldn’t accept Aboriginal people into training.

“It was exactly the same in education at that time, as my mother, her sister, was the first Aboriginal teacher in South Australia and she was told the same thing: ‘we don’t accept Aboriginal people into training’.

Exactly the same as what Lowitja was told,” said Ms Edwards.

“So Lowitja was relentless in her pursuit of it, as was my mum in education and they both basically SHE KEPT EVERYTHING – I KNEW THOSE kept coming up against a closed door.

THINGS COULDN’T JUST SIT IN A BOX,” By this time, Lowitja was still only 20 MS EDWARDS SAID.

Dr O’Donoghue, a Yankunytjatjara woman, passed away peacefully on Kaurna Country last year at the age of 91, with her life and legacy soon to be commemorated with an exhibition in her honour.

Dr O’Donoghue’s niece, Deb Edwards, now heads up the Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation, which was set up in 2022 to continue her legacy. Ms Edwards spent more than a year following her aunt’s passing with her daughter Ruby sorting through around 50 boxes of her historical archives, which have been housed within Special Collections at the National Library of Australia since 2013.

The collection of items includes landmark reports, original letters, photographs, telegrams, papers and more memorabilia showcasing a unique moment in Australian history and offering deep insight into Aboriginal affairs spanning the whole of Dr O’Donoghue’s life. There were so many items that she herself had described her house as a “gallery” before it was taken on as a collection by the library, leading to the idea of an exhibition.

Her background Dr O’Donoghue was told she would never amount to anything the night before her 17th birthday by the matron at Colbrook Home, where she grew up with her siblings after being removed from her home at De Rose Hill in the APY Lands at the age of 2.

The matron told her she was to be

years old and she was already writing letters to the then premier, Thomas Playford, asking for appointments to see him to ask for his support in lobbying, which she achieved.”

Through that process, Dr O’Donoghue was able to get an interview at the RAH. She was eventually permitted to train there as the first Aboriginal nurse in 1954, though they did not count the two years of training she had already done at the South Coast District Hospital, and she was made to start her training again from scratch.

“When she had her first meeting with the matron there, she wasn’t even allowed to come into the office; she was made to stand out in the corridor,” said Ms Edwards.

“The matron said she needed to go to Alice Springs to nurse ‘her own people’. She said, ‘my own people are not from Alice Springs. That’s not my people. They are a people, but they’re not my people’. And I think to even say that back to the matron probably shows what she was made of, though it was very sad that she was treated poorly, and her earlier training was not considered valid. But I think that, just like being told she’d amount to nothing, it served to drive her onwards.”

Dr O’Donoghue opened the door into nursing for a cohort of Aboriginal nurses after her, many of whom had also grown up at Colebook Home, as she had.

And she certainly was driven, as showed when she began to fight for the rights of Aboriginal people. Her pioneering achievements included being: The first Aboriginal person permitted to train as a nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, who then obtained triple certificate qualifications in nursing, midwifery, and mental health The first Aboriginal woman invested as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) The inaugural Chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) Fundamental to the creation of the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement in SA between 1970 and 1972, which has provided free legal and financial help for ATSI people across the whole state ever since The first Aboriginal person to address the United Nations General Assembly 1984 Australian of the Year, invested into the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), named an Australian National Living Treasure Awarded Commander of the British Empire (CBE), Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great (DSG - a Papal Honour by Pope John Paul II)

Deb Edwards Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation 2024.

“SHE RECOGNISED THAT IF YOU AREN’T AT THE TABLE YOU AREN’T GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SAY, AND YOU CAN’T MAKE CHANGE IF YOU’RE NOT THERE.” MS EDWARDS SAID. She also played a key role in negotiating and drafting Native Title legislation in Australia that arose from the High Court’s historic Mabo decision.

“It seemed like she always wanted to be at a meeting.

She didn’t have to necessarily be the Chair, but she had to get a seat at the table,” said Ms Edwards.

Her Legacy The first Aboriginal person to be awarded an honourary doctorate in Law from the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra in 1995, Dr O’Donoghue is now also the first Aboriginal person to have a building named after her there, as the Lowitja O’Donoghue Cultural Centre was officially opened in March.

ANU vice-chancellor distinguished professor Genevieve Bell said naming the ANU Cultural Centre honoured Dr O’Donoghue’s life, leadership and legacy.

“Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue was a woman of courage, grace and dignity. Her achievements were many but, as she would often stress to colleagues, she was never satisfied as there was always so much more work to be done,” Professor Bell said.

Working at Department of Aboriginal Affairs during the 1970s Lowitja O’Donoghue Collection.

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Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG with great niece Ruby Edwards (left) and niece Deb Edwards (right) Credit Leanne King.

“It’s in this spirit of constant improvement and striving that we are honoured to bestow her name on our Cultural Centre here at ANU – a significant building at the heart of our campus which brings our community together.”

Dr O’Donoghue’s remarkable life and lasting impact on Australia will also be remembered and honoured in an inaugural exhibition portraying her most iconic, triumphant and heartbreaking moments.

LOWITJA – A Life of Leadership and Legacy will feature a selection from Dr O’Donoghue’s extensive personal collection of her landmark speeches and media interviews, never before seen photographs, letters and reports spanning across her lifetime relating to the Stolen Generations, nursing and healthcare, Aboriginal affairs, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), her own significant achievements, family and Indigenous peoples.

There is an existing connection to The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, which is presenting this inaugural exhibition alongside the Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation and Lowitja Institute. Dr O’Donoghue was a longtime friend and Patron of the Hawke Centre, and had a close professional and personal friendship with the late Hon Bob Hawke AC, former Prime Minister of Australia after he presented her with the Australian of the Year Award in 1984.

Executive director of The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, Jacinta Thompson, said the

exhibition is a celebration of the remarkable life of a true pioneer and tireless advocate for justice, health and equity.

“It is an honour for The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre to host this exhibition, given Dr O’Donoghue’s deep and enduring connection between the late Bob Hawke and University of South Australia. As a member of the Advisory Committee of the Aboriginal Task Force, she played a key role in ensuring that one of the University’s core functions would be to provide education programs that meet the needs of Aboriginal people,” she said.

“Through her extraordinary legacy, Dr O’Donoghue has inspired generations, not only within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, but across the wider Australian community - fostering greater understanding, respect and reconciliation.”

The exhibition coincides with the end of 2025 National Reconciliation Week (27 May–3 June) and aligns with the Lowitja Institute 4th International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference at the Adelaide Convention Centre (16-19 June) and 2025 National NAIDOC Week (6-13 July).

Listen to this episode of Aboriginal Way “Lowitja - a Life of Leadership and Legacy” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

LOWITJA – A Life of Leadership and Legacy 4 June 2025 – 25 July 2025 Open weekdays 9am - 6pm FREE ENTRY Kerry Packer Civic Gallery Hawke Centre Level 3, UniSA City West Campus 55 North Terrace Adelaide

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New Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People appointed The SA Government has appointed Dale Agius as the new Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, taking over from the inaugural Commissioner April Lawrie, who served two terms in the role.

role, alongside experience garnered from public service positions including director of Aboriginal Practice and Partnerships in the Department of Human Services and director of Aboriginal Practice in the Department of Child Protection.

“I look forward to carrying on the recommendations in that report and bringing together efforts from across government agencies to work towards better initiatives to support the wellbeing and aspirations of Aboriginal Mr Agius has signed on to conduct the role for a three-year children and young people while keeping the government term, carrying on the important task of serving the rights of accountable on efforts for closing the gap for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth in South Australia.

Aboriginal community within South Australia.”

One of the keystone projects from Ms Lawrie’s time as SA Minister for Education Training and Skills, Blair Commissioner was the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Boyer, welcomed Mr Agius’ appointment to the role and Child Placement Principle in the Removal and Placement of paid respect to Ms Lawrie’s contribution to the sector.

Aboriginal Children and Young People in South Australia, “Mr Agius has extensive experience in statewide demanding improvement in the handling of these matters engagement with Aboriginal communities, advocating for by the state government. inclusive representation and policy The role of the Commissioner is to reforms and I look forward to working act as an independent statutory body with him over the next three years,” Mr in efforts to improve the development Boyer said. and wellbeing of Aboriginal children “Additionally on behalf of the and young people in SA. state government, I would like to take Mr Agius stepped into the role I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A MASSIVE THANK the opportunity to thank Ms Lawrie on April 5, bringing more than two YOU TO THE OUTGOING INAUGURAL for her leadership and tireless work decades of experience in strategic COMMISSIONER APRIL LAWRIE FOR HER and advocacy in the role addressing leadership and advocacy for STRONG UNCOMPROMISING LEADERSHIP, the rights and wellbeing of South Aboriginal children, families and HER RELENTLESS COMMITMENT TO THE Australia’s Aboriginal children and communities.

HOLDING ON TO OUR FUTURE REPORT IS young people.”

As a Kaurna, Narungga, Ngadjuri A TESTAMENT OF STRONG PRINCIPALS OF and Ngarrindjeri man, Mr Agius brings SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY,” a broad scale of representation to the MR AGIUS SAID.

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Security boosted for significant Koonalda Cave structure

The preservation of the culturally significant Koonalda Cave in South Australia’s Far West Coast (FWC) region will be bolstered by the installation of new security cameras and the implementation of a ‘comprehensive’ management plan.

In 2022, the National Heritage listed cave was broken into and vandalised by unknown culprits, with the installation of these cameras a direct response to this incident.

These new security measures were enabled by a $400,000 Australian Heritage Grant, facilitating the setup of remotely monitored cameras, recording 24 hours a day that can assist in prosecuting people who illegally access this site.

Koonalda Cave sits within the Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area, around 80km east of the West Australian border, containing cultural heritage “highly vulnerable” to human damage and at risk from environmental changes.

Koonalda Cave has been closed off to the public since the late 1980s and is of particular significance to the Mirning people, featuring exceptionally well-preserved markings and evidence of flint mining and transformed contemporary understandings of Aboriginal art and archaeology in Australia.

In 1956, archaeologist Dr Alexander Gallus dated the archaeological remains and finger markings at Koonalda Cave to be from 22,000 years prior, with later dating via radiocarbon technology confirming this, which was revolutionary for the wider public’s understanding of Australia’s timeline.

During the development of the plan for the cave, Aboriginal groups with staked interest in the site were consulted, including the Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation (FWCAC), which holds native title rights over the area.

Mirning and Yankuntjyara man Clem Lawrie has strong familial connection to the cave, particularly through his mother’s side, and holds strong connection to the wider Nullarbor Plains.

“We’ve done immense signage within the FWC region, which I believe is a deterrent to prevent damage and graffiti, whatever you want to call it.

“I call it desecration myself personally - I’ve seen it happen up in the Northern Territory around places like Uluru and I think it’s very disrespectful for Aboriginal people to see that.”

Koonalda Cave is one of around 10,000 cave systems found within the Nullabor, across both Western Australia and South Australia.

It was used as a communal place by Aboriginal people and contained a series of invaluable resources necessary for survival, with the cave’s main chamber located some 100 metres underground.

“It provided shelter and water and contained flint that our people worked in that cave and traded all over Australia, mainly to the northwest of Western Australia and further towards the east,” Mr Lawrie said.

“It was a refuge for our people, if it was 50 degrees up top it was always 18 degrees in the deeper caves on the Nullarbor - all year round.”

Senior researcher and field archaeologist, Dr Keryn Walshe, who has worked with FWCAC at Koonalda Cave, welcomed the new security measures but flagged concerns around general handling of the cave’s integral heritage.

“The cameras are great but they’re not actually protecting the artwork inside the cave because the conservation isn’t being done,” Dr Walshe said.

“The office of Aboriginal Affairs is responsible for protecting the caves under the (Aboriginal Heritage) Act

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Clem Lawrie at Koonalda Cave.

but it’s not happening because native title rights aren’t being recognised - the FWCAC are an incorporated umbrella group that has been given native title over the lands and therefore Koonalda Cave.

“They speak for many people but have been told that unless there is consensus on the Department of Environment plan, they can’t proceed in protecting the cave. The real protection does lie in doing conservation-based research, the conservation research plan was supported by the native title body, yet they too have been blocked from fulfilling their own cultural obligations.

“All Aboriginal groups need to be able to make comment, however in the end, the ultimate decision making should lie with the native title body alone and they can then accept comments from others.”

SA Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Hon. Kyam Maher MLC, called the protection of Koonalda Caves “crucial”, with reference to the plan drawing upon the knowledge of the Traditional Owners of the FWC. “Koonalda Cave is an important site, both for its incredible natural features and it contains examples of some of the earliest signs of First Nations history in Australia,” Mr Maher said.

Koonalda Cave and surrounding landscape.

KOONALDA CAVE IS VERY IMPORTANT PLACE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE FAR WEST COAST, BUT WE’VE GOT TO TAKE MORE MEASURES TOWARDS OUR CONTINUED PROTECTION OF LAW AND CULTURE WITHIN THOSE AREAS,” MR LAWRIE SAID.

“It is tangible evidence that we are home to the oldest living culture on the planet and it is of particular importance to Aboriginal communities.”

SA Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, Susan Close MP, said the additional security measures are a “vital step towards preserving and protecting the heritage and cultural values of Koonalda Cave well into the future.”

“The new management plan allows for continued research at Koonalda Cave, with processes to ensure protection of the cave, compliance with the law and support of Traditional Owners,” Ms Close said.

“We value important scientific research because it helps to improve our knowledge of significant sites and assists in management decisions.”

Permits to conduct research at Koonalda Cave will be considered via new research protocols, set to be developed over the coming months.

Entry to the cave will be carefully managed with strict access conditions to protect the heritage features, natural values and ensure the safety of all who enter.

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Construction underway on Purrkanaitya Elders Village A sod-turning ceremony was held in late March to launch construction of the long-awaited Purrkanaitya Elders Village at Warriparinga/ Bedford Park.

Purrkanaitya is a Kaurna word meaning “for all Elders”, with the facility set to deliver 40 modern and culturally appropriate homes near the Sturt River.

The project is slated to take around 14 months, with the facility offering Elders the opportunity to live independently on Country in affordable, safe and secure community housing.

Purrkanaitya is designed to address the ever-increasing Aboriginal aged community, though life expectancy is only gradually rising for First Nations, the number of people living into later stages of their life has increased.

Accessible and inclusive design features included for the facility include stepless and bathroom grabrails to

Kaurna leading the first groundbreaking for Purrkanaitya.

Kaurna members and project partners with the project artwork.

ILSC chair Ian Hamm addresses attendees.

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I THINK THAT’S ONE OF THE THINGS WHICH DISMAYS ME, SURPRISES ME ABOUT THIS PROJECT, IS THAT IT’S TAKEN 25 YEARS TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE’RE ONLY NOW TURNING THE FIRST SODS OF SOIL,” MR HAMM SAID.

enable residents with mobility issues to ‘age in place’, along with communal areas and culturally significant outdoor firepits.

The state government is contributing $4 million towards Purrkanaitya, alongside the federal government’s $3 million and the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) who have donated the site and contributed around $5 million towards the project.

Yorta Yorta man and ILSC chairperson, Ian Hamm, attended the commencement of construction on Purrkanaitya to acknowledge the effort and work put in by community over a quarter of a century.

“It was important for the ILSC to make people feel that our presence was here with them on this personal and very important occasion - it’s not just a transaction for us - it’s

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deeply meaningful for us as an organisation and reinforces that what we do has purpose, meaning and brings real change.

“We have to do something to ensure that, for our Elders, their life is one where they have surety – particularly towards the back half of their life.”

The developing village is of particular importance to members of the Stolen Generations, an aging community of which many hold a fear towards traditional aged care facilities.

Many stolen children were put into institutions and facilities and the thought of being put into a standard aged care home can be traumatic, particularly if these venues are not attuned to the needs of Aboriginal people.

Mr Hamm himself is a member of the Stolen Generations and said the availability of facilities like Purrkanaitya was of “utmost importance.”

“It would be inhumane of us and completely irresponsible to say to these people ‘you were institutionalised when you were children and towards the end of your life you’re going to be institutionalised

Smoking ceremony during commencement speeches.

Kaurna vice-chair Dennis Rigney spoke on-site at Purrkanaitya.

again’ - how can we do that with any modicum of human decency?” he said.

“What do we expect of the staff we employ, how do we want them to relate to our residents here or in other facilities, what do we expect of our staff - not just the technical and service provision that you would expect as a bare minimum, but what is the relationship expectation we have of them?

“That’s why projects like this are so critically important, that we look after our people our way in a way that looks after them.”

Construction on Purrkanaitya Elders Village is possible via additional funding from the ILSC, the South Australian Housing Trust, Housing Australia’s National Housing Infrastructure Facility Social and Affordable House and Community Housing Limited.

Design for the village was developed in consultation with the Kaurna community in collaboration with Adelaidebased firm C4 Architects.

Repatriating Ancestors and healing communities: reconnecting Aboriginal people with their heritage Repatriation is the process of returning disturbed and mistreated Aboriginal Ancestors back to their Country. It is a deeply personal, spiritual, and emotional process for Aboriginal communities who are working with the South Australian Museum to rebury 4,600 ancestors. For many, it can feel like the missing link between coming to terms with the impacts of a brutal past for their ancestors and moving forward with their own lives, whilst still recognising the past.

Co-design workshops were held between August and December 2024 to come up with the design principles and key concepts for a new Ngarrindjeri Raukkan resting place.

Over the past six years, eight communities have played a key role in reburying hundreds of Ancestors in various locations including Kingston South East, Koonibba on the Far West Coast, Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park on the Yorke Peninsula and Yuendumu in the Northern Territory.

The SA Museum is committed to righting the wrongs of the past by acknowledging the institution’s historical attitudes towards Aboriginal people and the study of their Ancestors.

It has adopted the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, stating it will ensure all ancestral remains are treated with respect and not as specimens of scientific or historic interest.

Currently, the museum is working with three communities: Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation (KYAC) who are finalising a fourth reburial at Wangayarta / Smithfield Memorial Park, Dieri Aboriginal Corporation on their Return to Country Plan, and Ngarrindjeri with a new resting place at Raukkan.

SA Museum Aboriginal Heritage and Repatriation Manager, Anna Russo, plays a key role in coordinating this work in SA and says that repatriation is increasingly taking place across the country.

“More resources are being dedicated to repatriation in state museums across Australia now and there’s a lot more awareness and activity taking place,” Ms Russo said.

“As native title is determined, communities are getting

a seat at the table to have a conversation; they’re getting to have Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA’s), comanagement arrangements with national parks - all those things that give them power - there’s more capacity to bring Ancestors home.”

Seeing other communities successfully repatriate their Ancestors can help other groups to move forward with the process.

“It’s all community-led, we don’t choose communities - communities choose us. We make space for all communities,” Ms Russo said.

“We’ve often got multiple projects all happening at once, with some that are advanced and some right at the beginning. If one slows down, there’s always another community that’s picking up, so it’s about having space for any community that’s ready at any time.”

Cultural and social impact The impact of repatriation on Aboriginal communities is significant, with many reporting feelings of healing and release as they rebury their ancestors.

“To the Kaurna people, it’s really important, and this part of our journey is about healing,” Kaurna Elder Aunty Madge Wanganeen said during Kaurna’s first reburial.

For many others who have participated in the

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repatriation process, the impact has been transformative.

Ms Russo described witnessing these powerful reburial ceremonies as “an absolute privilege,” reflecting on the emotional weight of such a significant moment in the lives of the communities involved.

“People who were feeling a bit angry before went through the repatriation and reburial process, and they’ve said they don’t feel so angry anymore,” Ms Russo said.

“There’s often a sense of relief that, okay, they’re buried. They’re not going to be disturbed again. It’s done and not being passed on to the next generation.”

“One woman always stops and reflects in her Ancestor’s new burial place saying, ‘I love it here; I feel so good here. I feel my Ancestors are safe here’.”

A notable example of repatriation efforts is the Warlpiri Project, established in 2019 and led by the Warlpiri people in partnership with the SA Museum.

Ms Russo says the project is recognised as a model to inspire other communities to ensure repatriation is done in a culturally respectful and community-driven way.

“The Warlpiri Project is the most amazing repatriation project in Australia, I think,” she said.

“It’s special because it’s a group of Elders and leaders from a very remote community who have decided that they are going to find all their secret, sacred objects around the world, and they are going to bring them home. They’re going to use them to teach their younger generations their knowledge before they pass away. There’s this sense of urgency, but also this incredible collaboration and consensus that this is the most important thing that needs to happen in their community right now.

“They chose our museum as the host organisation in Adelaide because we have a lengthy relationship with the Warlpiri people, going back to the 1930s. We provide that infrastructure and a space for them to do their work. That’s also opening doors for other communities who see what they’ve been doing. They say, ‘this is how we did it and this is what you can do too, you can build a keeping place too’.”

Evolving repatriation practices In 2018, the museum significantly shifted its repatriation practices, updating its policy to be more community focused.

The original repatriation policy, developed in 1987, no longer reflected the evolving cultural landscape or legal framework.

For example, the Aboriginal Heritage Act, which was enacted in 1988, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, endorsed in 2009, were created after the policy was developed and therefore not considered in it.

Ms Russo said the best way to update the policy was to establish a reference group of Aboriginal Elders and leaders who had experience in repatriation.

“We brought them together to set a new way to move forward. We worked with people like Uncle Tauto Sansbury, who’s now passed away, Uncle Moogy Sumner, Uncle Jeffrey Newchurch, Sandy Miller, Uncle David Rathman; they’ve all contributed to this,” she said.

The SA Museum then co-hosted a forum with Aboriginal

During the co-design process, Ngarrindjeri community members visited Wangayarta for inspiration for their new resting place.

Affairs and the Australian Government’s Office for Indigenous Repatriation and were able to test new policy concepts with 50 Traditional Owners from South Australia.

The museum board approved the new policy and engagement-based strategy shortly after, which has driven the practice ever since and led to a bigger push in repatriation in the state than ever before.

“The new strategy focused on building relationships with communities and understanding what their ambitions where, then finding the resources to make those things happen. It was quite different to what had been happening before,” Ms Russo said.

“It focused on a staggered approach to repatriation, because there are so many groups. It’s a three-step process now; the first process is to inform everyone, with communications sent directly to native title body corporates inviting them into the new program. Then stage two is all about community-led archival research.”

Each Prescribed Body Corporate (PBC) is invited to nominate community researchers to work on the initial research reports, known as providence reports in this second stage.

These representatives can be funded to come into the museum and go through old records, with support from staff.

This can be a time-consuming and emotional process, but they can leave with a full report for their board detailing information about each ancestor; where they were disturbed from, when and why.

Ms Russo said this approach helps to ensure everyone involved remains fully informed in all decision-making, while creating capacity for this work and champions of repatriation in communities moving forward.

“Stage three is the Return to Country Plan, where the community share their goals with us and a plan for moving forward is agreed upon, entirely on the community’s timeline, with roles and responsibilities assigned,” Ms Russo said.

The museum accesses Indigenous Repatriation

Program funding from the Commonwealth Government to resource the repatriation plans.

They draft legally binding agreements setting out the roles and responsibilities of both the PBC and of the SA Museum, to ensure everything is fully funded through the grant.

Kaurna Elder Uncle Jeffrey Newchurch has been heavily involved with the return of Ancestors and would like to see a push towards entirely-community led repatriation with increased funding made available.

“I believe in what’s best for Aboriginal people and what’s best for Aboriginal people is to be in control of their own destiny. But they can only do that if they’re resourced to do so,” he said.

“There needs to be more funding towards our community for the ongoing maintenance and care of the burials and lease.

How do we know that the leases won’t expire, and our people will be dug up or others put on top of them? We don’t get ownership of our burials, and we need ownership – we can look after our own burial grounds and turn workers into rangers to look after it, that way we’ll be looking after Country.

“But I’m happy and content that it’s happening.”

Looking to the future Several PBCs are at different development stages in relation to their repatriation works widely and with the SA Museum.

“At the moment we’re working with Dieri who are pretty advanced into their Return to Country plan; the Kaurna community, who are talking about having their fourth reburial at Wangayarta, and the other big project is Ngarrindjeri who are working on their new resting place at Raukkan,” Ms Russo said.

“Kaurna’s work at Wangayarta has really opened doors for other communities. Especially for a group like Ngarrindjeri who also have a lot of Ancestors here, it’s not easy to find locations to rebury all those people on Country.

So to create a memorial park where everyone can be safely reburied in a culturally appropriate way by the community; they’ve seen Kaurna do that, and it’s given them confidence to do that themselves.”

Ngarrindjeri The Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation and Raukkan Community Council collaborated with the SA Museum throughout 2024 and secured funding from the State Government to complete a co-design process for a new ancestral resting place at Raukkan. The co-design process ended in February 2025 with a community-designed concept plan that was costed and put to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.

WE ARE ATTENDING TO OUR CULTURAL OBLIGATIONS BY DOING THIS. IT GIVES CLOSURE TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING IN BOXES.”

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Raukkan School children are spending time with Ngarrindjeri Elders and artists to come up with a suitable Ngarrindjeri name for the new resting place.

A decision on the release of the next stage of funding to establish Ngarrindjeri Raukkan Resting Place is expected soon, at time of writing.

Ngarrindjeri Elder Uncle Clyde Rigney Snr said it’s good to be reaching this outcome, as Ngarrindjeri people have been working on repatriation for several years.

“We finally made a decision at the 2024 native title AGM where we saw a resolution for our community,” he said.

“Raukkan means “traditional resting place”, so it became evident to us that the final resting place should be there.

Before 1788, everyone would meet in Raukkan for our governance – we think there is no place more significant.

“The gates will be opposite our main cemetery and at the entrance there will have a boomerang to signify people returning to Country. There will be artwork in there, places for ceremony, and space for people to sit and reflect. We hope it will be a place for people to build resilience around how they can deal with our past and look to the future.”

With around 1500-1600 Ancestors to be returned home, Uncle Clyde says this will be the biggest repatriation the state has seen.

“We have to look at cultural safety and respect – the way we present it in ceremony for our people and the wider public needs to be considered. We’re at 400 members now, they are the ones making the decisions. We’re into our second year of consultation and giving people the opportunity to be involved in the process. It’s a process that I’m quite happy with; the fact that we’ve been so transparent.”

Wangayarta Wangayarta was designed by Kaurna to have four burial mounds; north, south, west and east, then they brought soil from those different parts of Kaurna Country and spread it at Wangayarta during the construction process; to “create Country” there in a way, Ms Russo said.

“Kaurna have now gone through the northern mound, the first one. They came back six months later and did the western mound; then the eastern mound a year later; now this southern mound is the final one.” Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri Elder Uncle “Moogy” Sumner has been heavily involved with repatriation efforts in SA and around the world and said the remains are there just waiting to return to Country.

“Our old people’s remains are waiting for us to come and get them and bring them home,” he said.

Listen to this episode of Aboriginal Way “Repatriation” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Ngadjuri cultural camp brings young people to Country Ngadjuri Nation Aboriginal Corporation recently held a two-day cultural camp near Burra, on Ngadjuri Country, which provided an invaluable cultural experience to all who attended and provided an opportunity for Elders to spend time with younger generations.

The camp was attended by Elders Uncle Jeffrey Newchurch, Uncle Ian (Bobo) Harradine, Aunty Lynette Newchurch and Aunty Angie Harradine, holding cultural workshops carried out across the weekend.

Uncle Jeffrey provided cultural advice on the tour of Worlds End, the location of a proposed National Park located approximately 2 hour’s drive northeast of Adelaide and 20 kilometres south of Burra; an area of cultural significance to the Ngadjuri Nation.

Ngadjuri Nation Aboriginal Corporation (NNAC) chairperson Carlo Sansbury witnessed strong and positive reactions from children in attendance who participated in the cultural tour.

“It was fantastic for the kids to have the opportunity to listen to the storylines that he told them during the tour and they loved what he was talking about.”

Another highlight from the camp was a boomerangmaking workshop led by Uncle Bobo Harradine, where participants were able to try their hand at hand-carving and decorating their own boomerang Sessions featuring arts and crafts using traditional methods, ran by Angie Harradine, also proved successful amongst creatively inclined attendees.

THE KIDS LOVED IT, YOU COULD SEE IT ON THEIR FACES WHEN THEY RETURNED FROM THE TOUR WITH UNCLE JEFFREY, THEY WERE ALL REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE TAKEN PART,” MR SANSBURY SAID. The kids created custom designs with Aunty Lynette Newchurch to feature on printed t-shirts, giving them the chance to bring a piece of their experience home with them after the camp.

SA Museum Aboriginal Heritage and Repatriation manager, Anna Russo, discussed the repatriation of ancestral remains currently kept at the SAM, providing a deeper understanding of the complicated processes and history involved.

On the provision of the continuation of funding for the cultural camp, Mr Sansbury indicated the camp was “very likely” to be held again following the positive reception.

“It’s important for children to come on camps like this, not only do they learn but they also take that knowledge home with them and to their friends and family,” he said.

“It’s great to see them happy learning outside of the classroom.”

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Arabana heading back to Federal Court for native title appeal The Arabana people have won an appeal in the High Court of Australia and will have their case for rights recognised over an area near Oodnadatta sent back to the Federal Court.

The area of land is known as the Oodnadatta Common and has previously been contested by Aboriginal groups Arabana and Walka Wani.

It was agreed that the appeal should be allowed and that the wrong test for connection under the Native Title Act was applied in the Federal Court of Australia by Justice White.

The initial judgement contained emphasis on physical connection, with this appeal relying on the spiritual connection to the area claimed by Arabana people.

Arabana were granted their first native title claim in 2012, over an expansive area that includes cattle stations and towns in the far north of South Australia.

The matter will now return to the Federal Court, which will make a final ruling in consideration of this High Court decision.

Arabana people following the High Court’s decision.

BECOME A MEMBER Our strength is in our numbers - more members means a stronger voice!

Help shape Wakwakurna Kanyini’s work to improve the lives of Aboriginal children and families in South Australia.

Wakwakurna Kanyini, For Aboriginal Children and Families is the newly established South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Peak Organisation.

Wakwakurna Kanyini aims to address injustices, drive transformation of systems and help shape a brighter future for Aboriginal children and their families.

Wakwakurna Kanyini’s vision is to uphold Aboriginal children’s rights to ensure they grow up strong, with purpose and identity, in their families and connected to community, culture, spirituality and Country.

To learn more about Wakwakurna Kanyini or to download membership forms visit our website wakwakurnakanyini.org.au To contact Wakwakurna Kanyini call 8202 2022 or email info@wakwakurnakanyini.org.au

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Umeewarra Downtown 2025: a celebration of culture, truth-telling, and 30 years of leadership in Port Augusta

Alongside an influx of visitors, the people of Port Augusta gathered in early March to celebrate their community as part of the Adelaide Fringe 2025.

Nearly 1,000 people attended over the course of the day and those at the end were treated to an unforgettable performance by Troy Cassar-Daley, whose music resonated deeply with the crowd.

Umeewarra Downtown 2025 also celebrated 30 years of Vince Coulthard as Umeewarra Media’s CEO. His work in truth-telling, lifting up Aboriginal voices and keeping our stories strong has made a huge impact and the whole crowd showed their respect and appreciation, giving him the recognition he deserves.

“Seeing our young ones up there singing, sharing their voices and standing proud in who they are - that gives me real hope for what’s ahead. The way the crowd, the

FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, UMEEWARRA’S BEEN A PLACE FOR TRUTH-TELLING AND KEEPING CULTURE STRONG,” MR COULTHARD SAID.

Luke Carroll, Gayle Mather, Vince Couilthard and Troy Cassar Daley.

performers and our community leaders all came together shows just how much this space means to our people. [The] weather might’ve tried to slow us down, but the spirit of the day was too strong for that.”

A highlight leading up to the event was a workshop for local school students and kids from Club Umee with Troy Cassar-Daley.

The children had the opportunity practice two songs with him, which they subsequently performed on stage – a deadly performance which managed to get the entire crowd involved.

The festival was packed with incredible local talent.

Tyson Fielding’s electric performance had the crowd going, with Eliza McKenzie’s stunning rendition of “Today I Started Loving You Again” also leavingthe audience completely enthralled, showcasing the best of local community talent.

Local young ones also had their moment to shine, including the Club Umee kids who got up on stage with Vince Coulthard for a deadly performance steeped in culture and storytelling.

$5 bank note updated to honour First Nations connection to Country

Evening crowd.

Club Umee is a new program started last year

by Umewarra Media, who invited local children between seven and 14 years old down to their radio station for an afternoon of activities twice a week.

Truth-telling and cultural pride took centre-stage at the event as music, storytelling and performances brought to life the rich history and bright future of Aboriginal media and self-determination.

The day’s success was a demonstration of the community’s strength and resilience, proving once again how important it is to keep these spaces alive for generations to come.

Umeewarra Media sends a huge thank you to all the performers, supporters and community members who made the day so special.

With all the excitement and energy this event inspired, they’re excited to make it even bigger and better in the years ahead!

Dem Mob.

For the first time, the image of the monarch has been replaced on an Australian bank note to reflect the culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The theme of the $5 note was selected from more than 2,100 public nominations after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced King Charles would not feature following the death of Queen Elizabeth II whose face has been on one side of the note since 1992.

RBA assistant governor Michelle McPhee said the inspiring theme will guide the creation of an artwork to feature on the redesigned banknote.

“The theme encompasses the deep connection First Nations peoples have to the land, the waters and the sky,” she said.

“The selection of a theme follows an Australiawide campaign, which led to more than 2,100 theme nominations from the public.”

The decision from the RBA has led to outrage from some, who say it is “woke nonsense”, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton calling the decision “another attack on our systems, on our society and on our institutions.”

The RBA referred to the overturning of the concept of terra nullius, the action recognising the existence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s relationship to Country for thousands of years, as important context for this theme.

Before selecting the theme, they engaged with First Nations organisations across the country to build awareness.

The reverse side of the updated $5 note will still feature the Australian Parliament.

Entries for the redesigned note closed in April.

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Audrey’s Story Lower Arrernte and Wankangurru woman, Audrey ‘Kweyarerte’ Stewart, has released a memoir looking back over her life and experiences growing up with her family near Oodnadatta, in the far north of South Australia.

Ms Stewart said she’d enjoyed reading through her own story and reliving memories.

‘Audrey’s Story – A Language and Life History of Audrey Kweyarerte Stewart’ was collated by the Mobile Language Team (MLT), with Ms Stewart providing oral history of her life over a period of a week in Port Augusta and in various spots on Country.

Audrey’s book is the first in a series for the MLT’s ‘Language and Life Histories’ series, working with senior community members around SA to document their lives through verbal retelling.

This is part of a holistic approach to understand the deeply intertwined nature of Aboriginal culture with language, told firsthand by First Nations people.

The aim of the project is to tell Ms Stewart’s story in her voice, with the book written as it was told, in her words - without editorial changes that could skew the authentic retelling of her life.

Many of the stories included were orated during long road-trips to places Ms Stewart lived, such as Oodnadatta and Macumba Station, with the extended travel time allowing space to detail her rich lived history.

Ms Stewart’s connection to her Country was previously captured in the short film “Kuyata’s/Kweyarerte’s Country’, (listed online as Kuyata’s Country and was screened at various film festivals around Australia.

Born in Aparlakert (Macumba Station) Ms Stewart began looking after livestock at just five years old, learning the trade from various family members including her father, and spent a great deal of her life applying these skills.

When she was 11 years old, Audrey moved with her family to Oodnadatta, alternating between speaking Yankunytjatjara

with other Anangu people and English with her schoolmates.

One of Aunty Audrey’s great passions is the preservation of her Lower Southern Arrernte language, which is no longer widely spoken, with Ms Stewart providing lessons to help make the language more widely used.

Ms Stewart hopes her book will ensure her family’s story will be passed down to younger generations; while also helping her friends relive the time they spent together as children.

“It’s about my dad and my mum, they’d look after sheep on one area, my aunty and her husband and her family would also look after about 100 sheep on the other end and my mum’s brother and his two daughters and their wife; they’d look after a hundred sheep there,” Ms Stewart said.

“My uncle had to do what they call boundary rider, the ones who got to work night and day watching cattle and making sure no one else was coming in and stealing the cattle.”

Oodnadatta was Ms Stewart’s “second home”, a place where she moved and went to school from the age of 11.

Before Ms Stewart was born in 1948, an army base was established in Oodnadatta following the bombing of Darwin.

She said many of the people around town were prejudiced against Aboriginal people, some of whom thought they would be better off in homesteads or working on stations.

“When I started school there in Oodnadatta, they had a mission where all the Aboriginal kids would be going to the mission school. I had to go to the school where the white kids were so they called me black and all that. I didn’t care, I just gave it back, it was the only way I could shut them up,” she said.

Ms Stewart has a strong sense of humour, sharpened by a long life filled with adventure and has a fantastic array of captivating anecdotes.

“My dad taught us to ride a horse from a young age, so me and my brother used to ride a horse and help with mustering cattle,” she said.

“They used to ask me could you go get a carton of beer down the pub with a horse - I’d say I might get booked by police.

“So I ride the horse, tie the horse, go down to the pub and get the beer, next minute a cop pulled up.

“They didn’t charge me though, I argued and said, ‘I’m riding a horse I’m not driving.’ I don’t have to have a licence to ride a horse.”

MLT manager and senior linguist, Dr Paul Monaghan, said the project has been a response to communities requesting they travel to communities and facilitate oral history recordings with Elders.

“Exploring the past through memory can lead to longforgotten words and phrases rising to the surface, making them available for use today,” Dr Monaghan said.

“The Mobile Language Team is committed to capturing stories from multiple perspectives. We encourage people to tell their stories.

“We believe that truths often emerge from combining a number of perspectives rather than privileging only one.”

If you are seeking support in recording your oral history, you can contact the MLT here – info@mobilelanguageteam.com.au

Reconciliation isn’t slowing down Reconciliation SA News

National Reconciliation Week is nearly here, a time for reflection, learning and action; bringing Australians together to acknowledge the past and build a better future. The 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, emphasises honouring history while taking steps towards a just and equitable future.

One of the week’s most significant events in South Australia is the National Reconciliation Week Breakfast, which Rec SA host, and which is the largest in the country.

Tickets to this year’s breakfast sold out quickly, though we do offer free attendance for First Nations peoples.

A proud Bidjara and Birri Gubba woman, Professor Jackie Huggins AM FAHA will give this year’s keynote speech. There will also be performances from the amazing Iriwi Choir, formed by members of the APY Lands and Marliya, a powerhouse ensemble of young Indigenous women from Spinifex Gum. This year’s dance group is the Imbala Dancers, who blend traditional and contemporary dance to honor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ strength, identity and storytelling.

This inspiring event offers an opportunity to listen, learn and take meaningful steps towards reconciliation and it will be hosted by the incredible Bianca Hunt.

Reconciliation SA is excited to also mention that this year’s Principal Sponsor is We Create Print Deliver (who also design and print this very magazine!), a First Nations’ owned business, founded by Eastern Arrernte man Pat Caruso. This is the first time this has occurred, and we are proud to be able to say that.

If you are looking for other Reconciliation Week events, you can visit the Reconciliation Australia website to view events uploaded to their calendar, while Eventbrite and Humanitix is used frequently by Aboriginal businesses for events as well. Have a look so you don’t miss out on what is happening in your area!

Outside of the Rec Week Breakfast, Reconciliation SA recently hosted an important online discussion for International Women’s Day, themed Accelerate Action.

This event challenges participants to reflect on whose voices are being heard, who is missing, and why intersectionality is vital to gender equality. Featuring a diverse panel of Indigenous leaders and advocates including Allira Potter, Aunty Elaine Magias, Charlotte Coulthard-Dare, and Jayde Thyer.

Jackie Huggins.

Iwiri Choir.

Imbala Dancers.

The discussion explored strategies to create meaningful progress for women, especially those from underrepresented communities.

We also recently collaborated with the Don Dunstan Foundation and Equal Opportunity SA so the Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia could host the Harmony Day Lecture at the University of South Australia’s Bradley Forum. This focused on racial discrimination and inclusion, with keynote speaker Giridharan Sivaraman, Race Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission and a Q&A session, led

by Jodeen Carney, Commissioner for Equal Opportunity.

With the breakfast and NAIDOC Week fast approaching, we are looking forward to a big year ahead.

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Commonwealth vs Yunupingu: Gumatj clan land historic victory On March 12, the High Court of Australia made a consequential decision, ruling that native title is considered “property” in the Commonwealth vs Yunupingu claim in what has been described as one of the most significant cases since the famous Mabo proceedings of 1992.

Dr Galarrway Yunupingu’s younger brother Djawa Yunupingu and Balupalu Yunupingu celebrate their historic win outside court.

Photo courtesy of Mick Tsikas

The High Court ruled that the Gumatj clan is liable to receive compensation from the Commonwealth for the impact mining had on their home on the Gove Peninsula in Northeast Arnhem Land.

Bauxite has been mined in the area for more than 40 years, despite objections from the Gumatj people who opposed the decision with the historic Yirrkala bark petitions and subsequent court case.

The compensation figure will be determined by the Federal Court but has been publicly estimated as being up to $700 million, with the mining lease originally granted to Nabalco, now part of Rio Tinto, finishing up in 2030.

The outcome of this case is now relevant to every freehold or leasehold title granted in the Northern Territory between 1911, when the Commonwealth assumed responsibility for the Northern Territory, through to 1978 when it gained self-government.

Background of the Yunupingu claim The late Dr Galarrway Yunupingu was a teenager when miners came to his home on the Gove Peninsula, after the Commonwealth granted permission for Swiss mining

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT OUR OWN LAND.” DR YUNUPINGU

company Nabalco to mine bauxite in the region in 1968.

Yolngu leaders felt the Menzies government’s plan for the mine had been kept from them and were angered by the lack of consultation and disregard for their interests.

A young Dr Yunupingu helped draw up the Yirrkala bark petition in protest, which his father Mungurrawuy and other Yolngu leaders travelled to Canberra to petition the Federal Parliament with in 1963.

He later served as an interpreter on the historic Gove land rights court case Milirrpum v Nabalco that failed to prevent mining from going ahead. It was the first significant legal case for Australian Aboriginal land rights, decided on 27 April, 1971.

Many years later, Dr Yunupingu went on to file the case with the Full Federal Court of Australia in 2019 on behalf of the Gumatj Clan of the Yolngu People to prove they were entitled to compensation. He passed away in April 2023, just one month before the court ruled unanimously in his favour.

The case was then appealed by the Commonwealth and went to the High Court, led by his younger brother Djawa Yunupingu and Balupalu Yunupingu, both senior members of the Gumutj clan.

In March 2025, the Commonwealth lost their appeal and were ruled liable, with the Gumatj leaders celebrating the decision outside the high court.

“Justice has been served in this country for my people, and the people of North-East Arnhem land,” Djawa Yunupingu said.

“I also want to acknowledge my late brother who was the one who had the vision. It’s for the future of my people and our children and their children.”

What happened in the High Court?

The High Court ruled that native title is “property” and therefore taking away native title rights is like taking away property from those who rightfully own it.

Under section 51 of the Constitution, if the Commonwealth is acquiring a property, they must pay an owner fairly, on “just terms”. This clause and the definition of “just terms” was made famous in the 1997 movie The Castle.

The court found that the Commonwealth acquired Yolngu property in a long history of unjust dispossession, and did not acquire it on “just terms”.

Filming in 360 at Memory Cove, Nauo Country.

What does it mean for compensation?

Ashurst LLP lawyer Tony Denholder, told The Australian that this decision will lead to many future implications for the Commonwealth right across the country.

“Today’s landmark case is up there with Mabo and Wik. It finds that the Commonwealth is liable to pay native title compensation for the extinguishment of native title caused by its land dealings between Federation and 1975,” Mr Denholder said.

“Over 300 native title groups hold native title across Australia. Each has a legal right to claim native title compensation from the Commonwealth for its acts which have extinguished native title without the payment of just terms compensation as required by the Constitution.

“The pre-1975 liability of the Commonwealth is an unquantifiable amount. We don’t know how many acts across the country will be compensable, or the value of those acts.”

National Native Title Council (NNTC)’s chief executive Jamie Lowe said this decision confirms the strength of native title.

“Native title is now not only recognised under Australian law but also clearly protected by the Constitution – the same as any other ordinary land title or property,” he said.

“Where the Commonwealth, states or territories have acted in a way that fails to respect Constitutional or other legal protections, then it is common sense that there will be redress. This ought to be seen as an opportunity to economically empower communities who have been historically dispossessed. It is not controversial that the communities impacted by projects on their Country should benefit from the wealth generated through those projects.”

NNTC Chair Kado Muir congratulated the Gumatj clan and paid respect to the Yunupingu family.

“This decision realises the vision of Mr Yunupingu and the Gumatj Clan who continue to fight for land and native title rights to be recognised and respected not just in the Northern Territory, but all across our various Countries,” he said.

“The Gumatj decision shows that when our sacred lands are taken away, we are entitled to receive compensation on just terms in accordance with s. 51(31) of the Constitution, in the same way as any other citizen of Australia.”

Reflecting on 30 years of native title in SA SANTS is embarking on an exciting new project about the history of native title in South Australia.

The project will include a special, mid-year edition of Aboriginal Way, an August exhibition in the foyer of the South Australian Museum featuring a virtual reality (VR) experience, and a gala dinner for prescribed body corporates (PBCs) to celebrate and reflect on the last 30 years of native title.

We’re compiling photographs and stories from our archives and interviewing PBCs and influential native title figures who’ve been involved along the journey.

The VR footage we’re working on will allow everyday Australians to learn more about native title rights and interests directly from Elders speaking on Country, through an accessible and immersive medium.

If you’ve been involved in native title and want to share your story, please reach out to aboriginalway@ nativetitlesa.org.

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10,000 copies sent to SA & NT

What about the rest of the country?

It does not appear that the Gumatj outcome will directly affect state governments or third parties but is likely to set off a range of new claims of compensation in relation to Commonwealth land.

Contact: aboriginalway@nativetitlesa.org

Issue 98 Autumn 2025

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N o r t h e r n

T e r r i t o r y Irrwanyere Mt Dare Native Title Determination Eringa Part A Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi Proceeding Part A Proceeding

Tjayiwara Unmuru Native Title Claim Eringa

De Rose Hill Compensation Application De Rose Hill

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Eringa No. 2 and Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi

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Arabana No 2 - Part 1

Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara

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Wirangu People Part A CE DU NA

Adnyamathanha People Native Title Claim No. 3

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Ngarrindjeri and Others Native Title Claim

SC2017/001 First Nations of the South East #2 SC1998/004 Ngarrindjeri and Others Native Title Claim

South Australia Native Title Applications and Determination Areas As per the Federal Court (31 March 2025)

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Issue 98 Autumn 2025

nativetitlesa.org/aboriginal-way-news

V i c t o r i a

Prepared by: Geospatial Services, National Native Title Tribunal 4/04/2025

Narungga Nation Native Title Claim

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Barngarla (Port Augusta Proceeding)

Adnyamathanha No 1 - Stage 2

Nukunu (Area 2)

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NC2022/002 Malyangapa Combined Proceedings

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Adnyamathanha People No. 1 (Angepena Pastoral Lease)

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Land Tenure

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Yandruwandha/ Yawarrawarrka Native Title Claim

The Wangkangurru/ Yarluyandi Native Title Claim

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Tjayiwara Unmuru Compensation Application