Aboriginal Way

Tuthangga (Park 17) Adelaide was the site of the first cultural burn in an Australian capital city and the first on Kaurna Yerta in 200 years. The Kaurna community, City of Adelaide, Green Adelaide and the Department for Environment and Water have been working together to make this cultural burn a reality with assistance from Indigenous Fire Practitioner Victor Steffenson.

Cultural burns not only reduce the amount of fuel which can result in devastating bushfires, but these low and controlled burns produce smoke which is important for germination of seeds and regeneration of plants.

Aboriginal Way spoke to Kaurna elder Jeffrey Newchurch who is pleased to be working with the council to integrate traditional knowledge into the management of the Adelaide Park Lands.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this episode was recorded, the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future.

SA Native Title Services is the publisher of Aboriginal Way - we assist Aboriginal people in South Australia to gain recognition and to protect their native title rights and interests.

While on a recent work trip, we spoke to Mick Starkey, our Cultural Heritage and Land Management Senior Project Officer.

His Kokatha people received native title in 2014 over approximately 140,000 km2 of their land in the northern region of South Australia between Lake Torrens and Lake Gairdner.

One morning, Mick made some billy tea and was happy to sit and speak about his work as a park ranger at Uluru for 26 years, the fight to receive native title over Kokatha country, and how cultural and natural values go hand in hand.

Shane Mankitya Cook is a Wulli Wulli and Guwa descendant from Queensland. He was adopted by the Kaurna community in Adelaide and given the name Mankitya, which translates to "the scarred one". Over a coffee, near his studio at Black Diamond Tattoo, we talk about his life as an Aboriginal artist, athlete, and youth mentor.

Mali Isabel is an Arabana and Kokatha artist making a name for herself on Kaurna land. The 21-year-old was a successful applicant of a year-long residency at Carclew where she is developing her skills in painting, photography and ceramics. Mali bases her work on equality by using every colour of the rainbow and has big plans for her art empire.

Instagram: @malisabelart

It's South Australia's turn to see the Legacy: Reflections on Mabo exhibition which has been showcased at art galleries across the country since 2019.

Eddie Mabo spent a decade seeking recognition of his people's ownership of Mer Island in the Torres Strait, and on 3 June 1992 the High Court of Australia agreed by rejecting terra nullius (land belonging to no-one).

Co-curated by Gail Mabo, Dr Jonathan McBurnie and Kellie Williams, the exhibition brings together a selection of 22 works by 25 Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists in the spirit of reconciliation. Ursla Halpin, the gallery and cultural arts coordinator at Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery takes us on an audio tour of the exhibition.

Gina Rings is an award winning choreographer and dancer with over 30 years' experience in the arts.

Hailing from the west coast of South Australia, Gin Rings is a Kokatha woman who knew she wanted to be on stage before she was out of nappies.

Speaking of nappies, she is the artistic director for an upcoming show at the 2021 DreamBIG Children's festival, called Our Corka bubs.

Our Corka Bubs is the first ever Aboriginal contemporary dance work for babies. The best part, the whole show is in Ngarrindjeri language.

Tika Tirka means to stay and learn in Kaurna language, and that's exactly what Indigenous students from regional communities are able to do when they move into the student accommodation.

Based in Adelaide's CBD, Tika Tirka provides students aged 18 to 26 with an affordable, safe and culturally appropriate home away from home while they study in Adelaide.

We speak with State Manager for Aboriginal Community Housing, Wayne Gibbings, about the services provided; Ngarrindjeri and Narrunga university student, Michael Cullen, talks about his experience living at the facility; and Housing Officer, Ronald Rankine, promotes Indigenous students having a space where they are the majority.

South Australian of the Year, Tanya Hosch, says racism is the nation's unfinished business and talking about it will make us better Australians.

Tanya is the first Indigenous person and second woman to join the AFL executive - her leadership has made the game more inclusive for women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and gender diverse players.

In our interview, Tanya shares her personal experiences with racism, proud career moments and why there are positive outcomes for all if we change the date of Australia Day.

Warndu is an Indigenous owned company that makes products with wild harvested Australian native ingredients. Founders Damien Coulthard and Rebecca Sullivan say native ingredients have a place in every Australian pantry, and recipes from their cookbook, Warndu Mai, may inspire you to get started.

Warndu means "good" in Adnyamathanha and reflects the brand's aim of providing nutritious food that has a positive impact on people both physically and mentally.

Hear about why Damien and Rebecca started Warndu, how they collaborated with Haigh's Chocolates and feel their genuine passion for sustainability, through food and education.

WOMADelaide is just around the corner and this year the festival has announced a new music development initiative for emerging First Nations artists. It's in collaboration with the City of Playford's music venue and industry training hub Northern Sound System with support from Balya Productions.