Aboriginal Way | Issue 92 | Spring 2023

Issue 92

Spring 2023

A publication by South Australian Native Tile Services

www.nativetitlesa.org

Tarnanthi Festival 2023 Over 1500 artists showcasing pieces blending traditional and contemporary artwork.

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Federal Court formally recognises Wilyakali people’s native title

Nantawarrina: 25 years strong

State Voice to Parliament rolls on following federal defeat

STEM celebrates over 65,000 years of learning

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Scott Rathman hailed the City of Playford as a diverse community where people “really sit and listen” to each other. Photo credit: Playford Council

Scott Rathman: Painting for Panama Mr Rathman has been painting murals for over 34 years and is passionate about mentoring young aspiring artists in-between creating his own public artworks.

During the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Ridley Reserve, provided the training base for the Panama Women’s National Football team when they arrived in Australia for their campaign.

Mr Rathman highlighted the shared link between many traditional art practices when creating his mural for the visiting Panamanian athletes, a country with a similarly rich history of Indigenous art and creation.

“For me, I think Indigenous art from around the world has a lot of similarities in its purpose,” Mr Rathman said.

“The purpose of a lot of traditional art is about storytelling and I always want to make sure I honour that tradition. I’m always working and striving to tell a story.”

Mr Rathman’s artwork was commissioned by the Playford Council and was an opportunity to expand on several adjacent pieces of First Nations art in the area.

“It was a nice touch to be asked to paint something that would be welcoming for the Panama women’s soccer team,” Mr Rathman said.

“It’s also a way for me to tell them about the region I grew up in.

“Playford’s one of these communities which is extremely diverse and made up of people from lots of different places.”

During his career as an artist Scott has always endeavoured to create work that pays respect to traditional methods while utilising a modern lens and recently available resources to extend his artistic possibilities.

“People do associate Aboriginal art with the ochres, the yellows and the reds - that was the palette our ancestors had to work with.

“They couldn’t nip down to Bunnings and buy a bunch of bright and bold colours so they’re kind of stereotyped into being the colour palette that people expect.

“So I seek to use the biggest and boldest colours I can and even if people don’t understand what it represents you can make them happy through the imagery they see.

“I don’t believe that when you’re creating a public piece of art that you want it to blend into the environment, you want it to stand out.”

Mr Rathman was born in Loxton but has ancestry linked back to central Australia, where his grandmother was born at Hale River.

As a result, water plays a key role in his identity and is often sourced as a form of spiritual recharge when he needs a boost in creativity.

This can be seen in the mural for the Panama Women’s Football Team, which contains his signature water iconography that he has been developing since he first began painting.

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Mr Rathman said that when he looks back at the art he’d made as a 14-year-old it felt “basic” and a “little immature” but he was still exploring what it meant to be Aboriginal.

“You kind of know you’re Aboriginal growing up but then there’s a turning point I guess where you really want to start understanding exactly what that means and so art is really the thing that helped me explore that.

“One of the things that’s always in the back of my mind is ensuring I maintain the integrity of what I do because how I approach my day-to-day work dealing with organisations will also impact young artists that are coming through.

“If I’m doing the right thing in terms of educating businesses or organisations about properly dealing with artists, that allows artists to have an easy time coming through because someone has already done the hard work of getting businesses to do the right thing.”

South Australian Native Title Services Level 4 345 King William Street Adelaide SA 5000 Editor Keith Thomas Communications Officer Caleb Sweeting Journalist Isaac Selby Design and Printing We Create Print Deliver Advertising Enquiries (08) 8110 2800 Circulation 10,000 Scott painting

If you have any stories of interest to our readers, please address any correspondence to: aboriginalway@nativetitlesa.org Aboriginal Way South Australian Native Title Services Level 4 345 King William Street Adelaide SA 5000 Ph: (08) 8110 2800 Fax: (08) 8110 2811 FREECALL: 1800 010 360 The Editor has the final decision on all stories and advertising that appear in this publication.

www.nativetitlesa.org

Cover image: Tiger Yaltangki.

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

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Letter from the Editor

Keith Thomas says postreferendum their are still opportunities for Aboriginal people to be heard.

The outcome of the recent referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament was most disappointing for Aboriginal people.

It was a missed opportunity to recognise Aboriginal people within the Constitution of Australia and to provide us with a direct line to advise the government on matters impacting our lives.

Here in South Australia, we have the opportunity with the legislated State Voice to have representatives elected from around the state to advise the state government on matters of concern for Aboriginal people in South Australia.

In this regard, I urge Aboriginal people to nominate for positions in the election process and stand up to represent Aboriginal people in your region and the state.

I also urge the sub-committee groups to wisely choose who will represent your interests through the Elders, youth, Stolen Generations, and native title bodies’ advisory committees.

From a native title perspective, we will continue supporting PBCs in representing their First Nations groups by practicing good governance, consulting with members and native title holders, protecting cultural heritage, investing in social programs, creating business and economic opportunities, and engaging in the State Voice.

Now is not the time to procrastinate over the referendum outcome. There are still opportunities for Aboriginal people to continue growing; we need to make the most of the options available to us in SA to have a say in building a better future for the next generations. All I can say is stay engaged and be a part of it.

Find out more about the 2024 SA Voice Election: www.savoiceelection.sa.gov.au

Keith Thomas SANTS CEO

Sacred site damaged on Adnyamathanha Country

Native title claims update Active claims Nauo No.2 – Timetabled for determination early 2024.

Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka 2 (claim in Queensland) – Consent determination negotiations and programming orders in suspension pending outcome of negotiations.

Walka Wani Oodnadatta 1 and 2 and Arabana 2 – Judgement in favour of Walka Wani overturned on appeal. Special leave application to High Court by Arabana.

Far West Coast (FWC) Sea claim – Judgement reserved.

Adnyamathanha people are devastated after unauthorised earthworks destroyed a sacred site in the Flinders Ranges.

Culturally significant Adnyamathanha sandhills were destroyed during construction of a fence line on the boundary of Beltana Station and the Nilpena Ediacara National Park in South Australia’s Mid North.

On August 30, the Department for Environment and Water wrote to the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association (ATLA) seeking advice on whether a cultural assessment was required on the stretch of land.

But four days later, before the consultation process had been completed, the department discovered a private contractor had already begun digging holes on the site and ordered works to stop.

The Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association (ATLA) said they will take legal action against the department for the destruction caused.

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First Peoples of the River Murray and Mallee No. 2 – Consent determination negotiations and subject to programming orders.

First Nations of the South East #2 and Ngarrindjeri Part B – Mediation and timetable for consent determination.

First Nations of the South East #1 Discussions regarding the effect of various grants on native title continue.

Malyankapa – Connection report to be provided to State of SA and NSW in October.

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Update

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Federal Court formally recognises Wilyakali people’s native title Wilyakali people hope to strengthen their community relationships and provide strong pathways for future generations after receiving their native title in Mannahill.

On August 28, representatives of the Wilyakali people were handed their native title rights and interests by the Federal Court, during a consent determination 360km northeast of Adelaide.

The native title claim covers around 10,343sq km and stretches from the NSW border on both sides of the Barrier Highway to areas near Mannahill in SA. The area covers vast stretches of pastoral land as well as several small townships along the Barrier Highway.

The path to determination spans more than a decade and was instigated by Wilyakali Elder Maureen O’Donnell, who passed away in 2022, as well as Glen O’Donnell and Dulcie O’Donnell.

Federal Court Justice Elizabeth Raper formally signed the consent determination in front of a full tent of Wilyakali people and local pastoralists.

Wilyakali Aboriginal Corporation vice-chair, Sandra Clark, said the result paved the way forward for many of the young people present at the ceremony.

“It was great to have four of our Wilyakali kids to welcome in language, we want to teach them all that stuff going back to language and dance and ceremony,” Ms Clark said.

Ms Clark spoke to the process of recognition for the continued existence of Wilyakali people, a group that has been growing in numbers over the past decades.

“A lot of people thought the Wilyakali were extinct because of colonisation, but there was an old fella called Ken McKenzie, he was a Christian man that became like family to us in Broken Hill,” Ms Clark said.

“Other people were saying there was no Wilyakali people left, he [McKenzie] said ‘yeah there is there’s a big mob there in Broken Hill.”

“It’s a day for us to remember our ancestors, they fought very hard, a lot of people thought the Wilyakali people didn’t exist but here we are.”

Wilyakali Aboriginal Corporation chair, Glen O’Donnell, said the determination date would always be remembered

by Wilyakali people.

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The consent determination hearing at Maurice’s bore was attended by around 100 people.

Wilyakali people and pastoralists gathered for the consent determination.

Wilyakali Corporation vice-chair, Sandra Clark (pictured right), paid tribute to Elders past following the ceremony.

“We’ve got a lot of Elders that have gone before us that are no longer here…but were here in spirit – that we were able to recognise today,” he said.

“It was a celebration but also an emotional day. Just walking through the smoke it was very special and a day we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.”

Mr O’Donnell spoke of a conversation he’d had with a pastoralist, where they’d discussed expectations if the Wilyakali native title claim were to be officially recognised.

“I had one pastoralist that come out and his question to me was what do you want out of this?” Mr O’Donnell said.

“I didn’t say anything at the time but I’ve said it in my speech and I’ll say it now.

“We want to get back on our Country and want you to know this is our land.”

For Wilyakali man Jarred Menz, the process of native title determination has been heavily integrated with his personal life.

THAT’S WHAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO, TO BRING THEM BACK ON COUNTRY AND PASS ON OUR CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE TO THE KIDS.” MS CLARK SAID.

“I used to work on a lot of these properties out here and the connection I had back then at 16-years-old was used in the Federal Court as a witness statement,” Mr Menz said.

“So the past 15 years I’ve been providing a lot of my knowledge and information to the court which was then put into a witness statement.

“It’s been good to see it used today with other witness statements and connections for all of our people and all of the hard work that’s gone into it.

“This consent determination for the Wilyakali people has been an ongoing battle for the last 15 years, and to finally get the recognition today and the consent with all parties is a huge day of celebration.”

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Nantawarrina: 25 years strong On September 2, the Nantawarrina IPA celebrated 25 years since becoming the first officially delegated Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) in Australia.

Nantawarrina Rangers at the 25 year celebration

Since 1998, the 58,000-hectare stretch of land was returned to the care of Nipapanha (formerly Nepabunha) Traditional Owners who were able to begin the process of rejuvenation and revegetation.

The IPA facilitated the creation of a new way of preserving Australia’s natural heritage and the culture of its First Peoples.

In 2023 there are IPAs across Australia, spanning a combined area of over 87 million hectares of land and 5 million hectares of sea Country.

Former Aboriginal Lands Trust CEO, John Chester, helped coordinate the Nantawarrina 25th anniversary celebration in September and commended the community

for its continued management of the IPA. “Since the beginning these young fellas have been out there mustering goats, managing pest plant control and liaising with various agencies,” Mr Chester said.

“25 years down the track those young fellas who were riding horses and motorbikes out there mustering are out there still - it’s been 25 years of full-time employment which has kept the young fellas in the community and keeps things vibrant.

“They’re doing a terrific job training other departments and other Aboriginal groups who do visit and learning what to do with their own projects.”

Through careful land management, Nantawarrina IPA

AS THEY CONTINUE TO CONTROL FERAL ANIMAL THE REHABILITATION WILL IMPROVE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS THEY’VE CLEARED NEARLY 20000 GOATS FROM THE AREA,” MR BUTLER SAID.

rangers have implemented a variety of strategies to combat the degraded landscapes in the area, largely impacted by over-grazing sheep, donkeys, rabbits and goats.

The removal of vast quantities of these animals, alongside monitoring of ferals cats and dogs and native species management, has seen a significant increase in the natural regeneration of vegetation.

Nantawarrina IPA rangers have additionally implemented a monitoring programme for the Andu (yellow-footed rock-wallaby), leading to increased scientific knowledge of their behavioural patterns and strengthening the survival of the species which holds great significance to the Adnyamathanha people.

“There has been a 100% increase in Andu and neighbouring properties are starting to take note and document the Andu so they all know where they’re at,” Mr Chester said.

“The yellow-footed rock-wallaby was in danger of being eaten up by feral dogs entering the areas, they were putting in on the endangered species list.”

Chairperson of Landcare SA, Gerry Butler, highlighted the management of feral pests as key to the continual rejuvenation of Nantawarrina.

“It’s an extraordinary grazing pressure to have that many hard footed animals up there, it should never have been a grazing property.

“Rainfall is less than 200mm average out there so when you have to repair degraded land it takes a long time to rehabilitate that land.”

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Goat mustering on the IPA

Farmhand training course on the IPA. Photo Desiree Fielding

Nantawarrina Ranger Joelwyn Johnson with Julette Johnson. Photo by Annette Ruzicka

In 2023, there are IPAs across Australia, spanning a combined area of over

87 million hectares of land and 5 million hectares of sea Country.

Yellow-footed rock-wallaby

Following the celebration of the Nantawarrina IPA’s 25th anniversary, John Chester encouraged people to visit and witness the trailblazing natural heritage site.

“We know how focused Australians are at travelling around and looking at their country one of the things that the Nipapanha community has been focusing on is improving the tourism infrastructure,” Mr Chester said.

“We want people to get a first-hand look at what people are doing to rehabilitate this Country and visit the most successful Indigenous protected area in South Australia and possibly the world.”

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Main Story

Tarnanthi Festival 2023

The Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA)’s Tarnanthi Festival features over 1500 artists with works presented at venues across the state showcasing a varied lineup of pieces blending traditional and contemporary artworks.

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This year’s event features 53 art centres from across the country, with 40 showcased live from the Tarnanthi art fair exhibiting paintings, weaving, ceramics, sculpture, print-making and more.

Tarnanthi Festival attracts attention from all over the world and provides a strong springboard for artists to have their work further exhibited in adjacent prestigious art events.

Tarnanthi artistic director, Nici Cumpston, said she was ecstatic for South Australian audiences to see the effort put into some of the elaborate pieces made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

“When I spoke with the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair’s art manager, he was beside himself telling me about the efforts that the artists are going through making new work for Tarnanthi,” Ms Cumpston said.

“This year we’ve been working closely with KU arts and the Arts Ceduna in the Ceduna Aboriginal Culture Centre, to work with an artist from Western Australia who has created an armature, a metal base in the shape of a leafy sea dragon.

“They’ve made the armature for the leafy sea dragon and now the artists are working with marine debris - ghost net from fishing boats - that have washed ashore. They’re shredding the nets and then weaving them into this form to create a really incredible large scale leafy sea dragon.”

“The exhibit invites members of the public to interact and do some weaving to give people the chance to make something together and talk about the notion of how problematic these ghost nets and marine debris can be for marine life in our oceans.”

The work was completed with Aunty Lynette Crocker, a Kaurna elder, throughout the emblem consultation process to decide what would be a good emblem or marine animal to create.

Here are some of Nici’s Tarnanthi picks:

Tiger Yaltangki “Tiger is an artist from Indulkana in the APY lands, he’s repurposed old second hand AC/DC posters and he’s painted himself into the scene. So really brightly coloured paints over the top he’s made different portals, all different shapes.

He’s also created a series of self portraits where he’s talking about all the other bands he really loves as well.

He’s representing himself as a band member, on the posters as well.

“They’ll be a whole room of those works and it’s like walking into a young persons room, you see all of the posters plastered up on the wall.”

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Ray Mudjandhi “Ray is a young fella in his early 20s and he’s been making works of art for many years, it’s his way of healing himself. He hasn’t always been healthy in his life so he’s had different times where he’s needed to be creative in order to keep his mind active.

“He has made a series of works that are based around family he’d never met before that live in Central Australia. He lives in Jaberoo, up in Arnhem Land in the Kakadu National Park. He went down to Alice Springs and met up with family members and as a result made a superhero named Black Speed.

“So he’s made three bark paintings alongside the character of Black Speed as a large relic sculpture made out of wood, so there’s a lot of character and fun in that body of work that he’s presenting.”

Vincent Namatjira “I think Vincent Namatjira is an incredible artist who has just turned 40 and we’re doing a major survey exhibition of his practice.

“That exhibition is going to be upstairs at the Art Gallery of South Australia, showcasing works over the last ten years that we’ve borrowed from private collections and public institutions from across Australia.

Anna Mudjandi, right, Ray Mudjandi and Damien Kamholtz at Ntaria (Hermannsburg), Northern Territory, 2023 Photo - Katie Hagebol

“The exhibition has been brought together through his ideas and the way that he has themed the bodies of work that he’s created. They include themes of people in positions of power; he’s painted a lot of portraits of different leaders.

Tarnanthi at the Art Gallery of South Australia takes place between

“He’s renowned for his works, his portraits, and the way that he really subverts reality and makes witty statements and brings these people of power into Indulkana, to bring them down to our level.”

20 October to 21 January 2024

Reconciliation SA News Reconciliation SA News

Aerial View of Reconciliation SA Gala

This quarter we had a fantastic time hosting our fundraising gala. We had a beautiful Welcome to Country from Uncle Mickey O’Brien and were lucky to have Whadjuk Noongar journalist, Nerelda Jacobs, MC the evening.

Highlights of the gala were our successful silent auction, the hilarious comedian Dane Simpson who had us all in stitches, music from the talented Emma Donovan, and DJ SVVLO who kept the audience entertained between acts.

We used the event as an opportunity to launch Reconciliation SA’s new logo.

Designed by Karen Briggs, who designed the original logo over twenty years ago. The logo marks a significant moment in the direction of Reconciliation SA. The logo represents the five dimensions of reconciliation: The smaller pink dots represent people, signifying ‘race relations.’

The large pink circle in the centre represents ‘unity’.

The two arched swirls represent ‘equality and equity’ while the purple swirl at the top represents ‘institutional integrity.’

The red circle with the white dots represents ‘historical acceptance’ while the black background represents the state of South Australia.

Pink represents the heart of reconciliation, purple represents recognition and speaking the truth, red represents culture and blue represents new life.

As well as our new logo, we launched our new membership plans and our new website, which is undergoing some final touches while still in operation.

The membership plans are named in English and Kaurna in conjunction with the Kaurna people, the traditional owners of

Emma Donovan and Comedian Dane Simpson on stage at Reconciliation SA Gala

the land where our office is based. This is the first of several co-naming initiatives planned, where we hope to work with nations across South Australia to name our programs in both English and First Nations languages.

As we continue to develop new strategic directions, with the aim to engage with more regional and remote communities, we invite the community to connect with us at admin@reconciliationsa.org.au as you need, or you can follow our socials on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

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State Voice to Parliament rolls on following federal defeat SA politicians are remaining steadfast in their commitment to delivering the South Australian First Nations Voice to Parliament in the wake of a heavy loss for the Yes campaign in the October 14 referendum to enshrine a national Voice to Parliament into Australia’s constitution.

The result eclipsed expectation of even the most passionate No campaigners, with the No vote sitting at 64.6% at time of print.

For South Australians, a separate State Voice to Parliament remains in motion, with premier Peter Malinauskas announcing his intention to proceed with the model as planned during a speech on October 15, the day after the national referendum was defeated.

The SA Voice to Parliament was legislated back in March 2023, with the proposal receiving some bipartisan support for the model from both sides of state politics.

SA’s First Nations Voice will have two levels, a local First Nations Voice and a state First Nations Voice. They will work together but will have different roles and responsibilities.

Across the state 46 people will be elected for the local Voice, from there 12 will form the State Voice and will have the power to speak during the second reading stage of pieces of legislation put before the SA parliament.

Local elections for the Voice will be held on 16 March 2024, with designated representatives then meeting with the state cabinet, -at least twice a year, to offer community feedback.

Only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in South Australia can vote or nominate themselves as a candidate for the South Australian First Nations Voice to Parliament elections.

In the projected model for the State Voice, recommendations made to Parliament by the First Nations Voice will be non-binding and can be accepted or rejected by the government.

SA Attorney-General Kyam Maher, who is also the state’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister, said the majority No vote in SA did not change anything at a state level and that MPs he had spoken to had signalled there would be no rolling it back.

“There actually is zero prospect of this being repealed,” he told reporters on 15 October, following the referendums defeat.

“We will, in South Australia, get on with our First Nations Voice”.

In the days following the October 14 referendum, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders have called for

WE WILL, IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA, GET ON WITH OUR FIRST NATIONS VOICE”. unity, some have asked for at least a week to process the outcome delivered by the Australian public.

Many are still trying to process what the federal result means moving forward for progress on the ideas put forward from the Uluru Statement of the Heart – truth telling, treaty and voice.

Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man, Thomas Mayo, was one of the most prominent public advocates for the Voice to Parliament referendum since its inception.

Since becoming a signatory for the Uluru Statement of the Heart, Mayo travelled the country continually listening to and speaking with people about the Voice’s potential benefits.

SA Attorney-General Kyam Maher

The public lining up to vote on Kaurna Country

Kaurna remains uncovered at Riverlea housing development At least 27 Aboriginal remains have been found at Riverlea housing development 30 km north of Adelaide. They are believed to be Kaurna ancestors who were traditionally buried at the site prior to colonisation.

KYAC chairperson Tim Agius

Mr Mayo spoke to Aboriginal Way in the weeks leading up to the October 14 national referendum.

“There were leaked text messaged from coalition politicians saying that this was their opportunity to get to the starting line for the next election,” Mr Mayo said.

“Now I think that’s disgraceful. I think it’s shameful.

“Especially where there’s been bipartisan support for so long, and now that we’re at this point where Australians are going to make decisions they’ve decided to make it political gamesmanship - an opportunity to take some bark off one side of politics.”

First Nations people wishing to vote in the SA Voice Election must enrol through the Australian Electoral Commission by

12 Feb 2024.

Nominations for candidacy will become available

22 Jan 2024.

Voting is scheduled for

16 Mar 2024.

Note: these dates are relevant at time of printing and may be subject to change.

More info at www.savoiceelection.sa.gov. au/enrolment

In July, Walker Corporation halted development in two areas at Riverlea after the discovery of remains and artefacts. The site has been slated for 12,000 homes under a 25-year plan.

Initial cultural heritage surveys undertaken with Kaurna participants suggest the remains and artefacts pre-date colonisation. Further archaeological investigations indicate the area was not a massacre site, with the placement of individual remains being consistent with traditional Kaurna burial practices.

Walker Corporation is now seeking authorisation from the state government to continue developing the site under Sections 21, 23, and 29(1)(b) of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1998 (SA).

Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation Chairperson and Elder, Tim Agius said, “The community’s preferred position was that the ancestors remain in their burial ground and not be removed from Riverlea. However, under the circumstances and with the support of Kaurna Elders, we have made the difficult decision to respectfully exhume the remains to ensure their protection.”

“We are following a process that has been endorsed by our Elders for 30 years. When ancestors are found, they are relocated to a safe location near the development. At Riverlea, we are working to identify an area to rebury our ancestors as close as practical to where they have been discovered,” Mr Agius said.

The native title body is seeking to fulfil the wishes of Kaurna community members who have called for a memorial garden and reflection centre at Riverlea to honour and respect Kaurna ancestors.

KYAC and Walker Corporation are working together to ensure that ancestral remains are treated and handled with respect.

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Fresh water for Oodnadatta Oodnadatta finally has reliable access to safe drinking water desperately needed to provide a lifeline for people living in one of the driest places on Earth.

The containerised facility can produce up to 210,000 litres of clean and safe drinking water.

Alongside holding the joint record for highest temperature ever reliably recorded in Australia, 50.7 degrees Celsius, the township has relied on rainwater drawn from corroded tanks to counter concerns over drinking water from local bores.

Residents have been cautioned by SA Water for decades about the dangers associated with using the town’s supply of bore water for drinking, washing their food and brushing their teeth.

Oodnadatta locals were additionally cautioned about the risk of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, a disease caused by Naegeri fowler, a parasite with the ability to cause potentially lethal damage to brain tissue.

In June 2020 the SA government announced that $9 million would be spent in efforts to facilitate a reverse osmosis desalination plant capable of producing 210,000 litres of clean drinking water per day.

Yankunytjatjara and Narungga man, Dean Walker, was instrumental in getting the attention of the policy makers with necessary resources to get the project off the ground.

“At the time I was on the South Australian Aboriginal Advisory Council (SAAAC), if you’re

John O’Neill and Amanda Lewry from SA Water at the new plant site in Oodnadatta.

going to be in those positions you have to fight for what’s right and for the people,” Mr Walker said.

“We thought we’ll spread out and share the story, I did my part with SAAAC then Steven Marshall and others came on board after I showed them the photos.”

For Oodnadatta residents using the untreated bore water for matters unrelated to personal consumption has historically had negative repercussions due to the water’s condition.

“Over time as you get older you start realising that water is no good, you see the salt hanging off the air conditioning and taps and all that,” Mr Chester said.

“Just rainwater out of the tanks that’s all you could drink.

Mr Walker said that although the towns water supply has vastly improved, there is still plenty more work needed to ensure strong futures for people living in Oodnadatta following the plant’s completion.

“This gets our future generations looking at us, it’s all about purpose, having that purpose on this earth,” Mr Walker said.

“Community needs jobs, when you have a job you’ve got a purpose. When you’re working you don’t know how many times you climb up the ladder, pick up the tools, so that’s part of health as well.

“We need jobs, we need funding and especially for our future generations, you have to be the voice for those kids.”

SA Water’s General Manager Sustainable Infrastructure Amanda Lewry said the desal plant was an important milestone for the outback town.

“This project will make such a difference to the daily lives of our customers in Oodnadatta, and to see a new supply of drinking water now flowing to their taps is a significant milestone,” Amanda said.

“The plant itself was assembled inside of a protective container in metropolitan Adelaide, before making the 1000-plus kilometre journey to Oodnadatta via truck for final installation.

“We are proud to have worked closely with the Oodnadatta community on delivering their new tap water, and the benefits it will bring.”

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$1 million for APY Lands projects In August, the state government announced $1.043 million in funding for a range of projects on the APY Lands including an extension of the Ernabella Arts Centre to improve community safety.

The announcements were made by Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Kyam Maher who visited the APY communities of Indulkana, Mimili, Umuwa and Pukatja earlier this year. The funding addresses some of the issues raised by community members during the minister’s April 2023 visit to the Lands.

Among the projects to be funded include: $722,000 for an extension and refurbishment of the Ernabella Arts Centre, Australia’s oldest, continuously running Aboriginal arts centre $30,000 for two new bus shelters on the Stuart Highway near Indulkana, to provide shade and shelter for people travelling by bus to and from Adelaide and Alice Springs, and returning to the Lands $270,000 for security measures at Pipalyatjara Store,

including a new security system, fencing, lighting and re-roofing $18,000 for five new street lights for the eastern side of Indulkana, to improve community safety $3,000 to install new speed signs near Kalka Oval.

Mr Maher said the government are committed to the ongoing sustainability of remote communities in the APY Lands and that a number of the initiatives were funded in direct response to concerns raised by the communities.

“The Ernabella Arts Centre in Pukatja is a place of cultural and national significance, known for its prolific production of Aboriginal art,” Mr Maher said.

“This funding will go towards new building works that will extend the art centre, as well as make a studio more comfortable for artists.

“Additional public safety measures include a new security system for the Pipalyatjara Store and street lights for Indulkana which will make a big difference to those communities.

“New bus shelters for the Sturt Highway near Indulkana will also offer much needed relief from the sun and shelter for people travelling to and from either Adelaide or Alice Springs.”

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Aboriginal Way A publication by South Australian Native Tile Services

18

STEM celebrates over 65,000 years of learning

The Young Aboriginal Stem Thinkers of South Australia (YASTSA)’s 2023 STEM Aboriginal Learner Congress is Australia’s biggest STEM event and the only one of its kind for Aboriginal children and young people.

The congress encourages students to embrace culture while utilising over 65,000 years of science, technology, engineering and mathematics practiced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Over 750 students from 180 schools attended this year’s event at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Kaurna land. STEM’s programs manager, Jacky Smith, highlighted the importance of young Aboriginal learners being able to see young, relatable people in their field.

“That’s the beauty of the congress is that it’s actually

THAT’S THE BEAUTY OF THE CONGRESS IS THAT IT’S ACTUALLY OWNED AND RAN

BY THE KIDS, SO THEY’RE THE ONES THAT DEVELOP IT, THEY SAY WHAT THEY WANT AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE,”

owned and ran by the kids, so they’re the ones that develop it, they say what they want and what their needs are,” Ms Smith said.

“It’s important to remember there’s three elements to congress – the first element is the YASTSA team, there’s about 70 of those students from the state. We’ve got students coming from the APY lands, Port Lincoln, Berri, Ceduna - all across the state.”

STEM teams run model workshops during the lead-up to congress and students then learn how to create one based on their local area.

“For example, it could be something like Berri Regional Secondary School, they have a tracker who was quite significant in that area, so they’ve related his story, and they’ve connected it to forensic science,” Ms Smith said.

“Students that attend their workshop hear the story of something that’s been practiced for thousands of years and then they’re able to put it in a forensic science context.”

Ms Smith has seen YASTSA students progress from struggling to speak in front of 20 students in class, to confidently speaking to over 1,000 about their culture.

“When you start talking about culture and how that connects directly to a STEM field or a STEM program they walk that bit taller and have that sense of pride. For example, one of the schools at Playford International has the dance of the brolga, now that’s quite a prominent story across many song lines but they’ve used that dance and combined it with coding.

STEM students addressing hundreds of their peers at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

“They’re teaching the students that attend their workshop the dance of the brolga, the story behind that and then how to code the robot to dance that dance.

“You can see how there’s a strong link between what they’re connected to and what actually happens when we take it to the modern or the mainstream world.”

The STEM Aboriginal Learners Congress focuses on widening ambition and real-world application for career paths that may not have been considered by participating students.

“This focuses on things like students wanting to work in a mining company - often First Nations people are asked

Marine biologist Natan Noel was a keynote speaker at this year’s conference.

to be cultural consultants. What we want our students to understand is that they can actually go to a company and work as an engineer if they want to,” Ms Smith said.

“They don’t have to be pigeonholed or streamlined to a certain area and by exposing them to this experiential stuff, this gives them then the opportunity to do that.”

Environmental Protection Authority marine scientist and STEM keynote speaker, Natan Noel, hopes to extend awareness for the benefits of Aboriginal sciences, which he says are finally getting the recognition they deserve.

“Working in my field the last few years has really opened my eyes about what this career can bring,” Mr Noel said.

“Aboriginal people are the oldest scientists in the world, especially through dreaming and story-telling - I see that as a monitoring program. They have stories about sea level rise and animal adaptation, or evolution, so being able to blend those two worlds of western science and Aboriginal science is very important.

“Aboriginal people protected the land through lore and dreaming stories, so for example the Dharawal people of southern Sydney have the grey nurse shark. Which has been in protection for a millennia through the Boo’ambillyee story which is the great shark spirit.

“Aboriginal people have this holistic broad approach about how everyone’s connected and everything feeds into each other, whereas I see some western science as quite reductionist where you look at the small approach and focus on that.”

Issue 92 Spring 2023

19

N o r t h e r n

T e r r i t o r y

Tjayiwara Unmuru Compensation Application

Irrwanyere Mt Dare Native Title Determination Eringa Part A Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi Proceeding Part A Proceeding

Tjayiwara Unmuru Native Title Claim Eringa

Legend Native Title Determination Area (NNTT name shown)

De Rose Hill Compensation Application De Rose Hill

Eringa No. 2 and Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi

MI NTA B IE

( !

Oodnadatta Common Overlap Proceeding

Yankunytjatjara/Antakirinja

External boundary of Native Title Applications coloured (NNTT number and name shown)

Dieri No. 3

Land Tenure

Yandruwandha/ Yawarrawarrka Native Title Claim

The Wangkangurru/ Yarluyandi Native Title Claim

Q u e e n s l a n d

W e s t e r n

Aboriginal Way South Australian Native Tile Services

20

Dieri

Arabana People ( !

CO O B E R P E DY

Adnyamathanha No 1 - Stage 3

Reserve/Park

SP2022/001 Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC

( !

LE I G H C RE E K

NC2022/002 Malyangapa Combined Proceedings

( !

Adnyamathanha People No. 2

Adnyamathanha No. 1

( !

Wirangu People Part A CE DU NA

SC1997/006 Wirangu No. 2 Native Title Claim ( ST RE A K Y B AY !

( ! ( !

SC2018/001 Nauo #3

SC2021/003 Wirangu Sea Claim #2 Wirangu No 2 (Part B), Wirangu No 3 (Part B), Wirangu Sea Claim #2 and Nauo #3

Kilometres

Geocentric Datum of Australia 2020

SC2021/004 Brenton Weetra and Ors and the State of South Australia (Nauo #4)

Nukunu Part A

( ! ( !

PO R T PI R IE

( !

PE T ER B O RO U G H

JAM E S TO W N

( !

Barngarla Native Title Claim

Nauo People

PO R T LI N CO L N

( !

SC2016/003 Nauo No. 2

Narungga Nation Native Title Claim

Ngadjuri Nation #2 SC2011/002 Ngadjuri Nation #2

( !

SC1997/008 Nauo

SC2012/001 Wilyakali Wilyakali

First Peoples of the River Murray & Mallee Region

CL A RE

SC2013/002 Narungga Nation

(BE R RI !

Kaurna ADEL AI DE Peoples ! ( Native Title Claim

SC2019/001 First Peoples of the River Murray and Mallee Region #2 ( MU RRA Y B RI D G E !

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 (30 September 2023)

( !

BO R DE RTO WN

( KI N G S TO N S . E. !

SC2017/002 First Nations of the South East #1

MO U NT G AM B I E R

( !

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Issue 92 Spring 2023

nativetitlesa.org/aboriginal-way-news

V i c t o r i a

Prepared by: Geospatial Services, National Native Title Tribunal 16/10/2023

WH YA LL A

Adnyamathanha, Ngadjuri and Wilyakali Overlap Claim

Q UO RN

PO R T A UG U S TA

Barngarla (Port Augusta Proceeding)

Adnyamathanha No 1 - Stage 2

Nukunu (Area 2)

W a l e s

SC2019/002 Wirangu #3

Adnyamathanha People Native Title Claim No. 3

Gawler Ranges People

S o u t h

WO O M E RA

SC2016/001 Far West Coast Sea Claim

200

RO X B Y D O WN S

Kokatha People (Part!( A)

Far West Coast

100

Adnyamathanha People No. 1 (Stage 1)

Adnyamathanha People No. 1 (Angepena Pastoral Lease)

Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara

0

Dieri No.2 Native Title Claim

Arabana No 2 - Part 1

N e w

A u s t r a l i a

Aboriginal Freehold