About the Program

Inhaadi Adnyamathanha Ngawarla is a language and culture program offered weekly in term time. Students gain insight into culture and language as they develop language proficiency. Classes include everything elders feel students should know about language and culture as well as language learning itself. It is a very unusual course. The core program is conducted usually in separate classes for children and for adults, is taught by Uncle Buck McKenzie. In 2007 and 2008 we also have had sessions with Aunty Elva Bright, Aunty Margaret Brown, Aunty Elsie Jackson, Aunty Kaelene McMillan, Aunty Gloria Sumner, and Aunty Lily Neville as special guest speakers in the program. This Visiting Elder scheme was funded by a grant from the Port Adelaide Enfield Council.

Getting elders and students together has been a priority.We shared an Adnyamathanha camp (funded by FaCSIA) in the Southern Flinders Ranges in July 2007. Then in July 2008, we had an Intensive program, in which we went from elder to elder through the Flinders Ranges, generously funded by Greg Shalit and Miriam Faine, and by DECS. We are delighted to mention Aunty Margaret Brown, Aunty Denise Champion, Aunty Fanny Coulthard, Aunty Pauline Coulthard, Uncle Terrence Coulthard, Aunty Elsie Jackson (Elder of the Year 2008), Aunty Judy Johnson, Uncle Kelvin Johnson, John McEntee, Aunty Lily Neville, Bernhard Schebeck, Uncle Noel Wilton who all shared with us on the intensive.

Another activity of the Program is creating resources. In 2007 AAR published Aunty LIly Neville's book Adnyamathanha Ngawarla, and in class we are developing Uncle Buck McKenzie's creative stories in Adnyamathanha for publication as dual language books, and for film.

Inhaadi Adnyamathanha Ngawarla strengthens the Adnyamathanha community, but is not exclusive. People from all backgrounds are encouraged to enrol.

This course brings parents, elders, children and youth together, collaborating for a better future. Parents usually support the class and enrol themselves. The fees help fund the course.

People behind the Program

Inhaadi Adnyamathanha Ngawarla is a not-for-profit project made possible by collaboration between Australians Against Racism Inc, Tauondi College, and the Adnyamathanha Community . Teachers are paid appropriately, but otherwise everyone who works for this project donates their time and skills.

Supporting Elders
Margaret Brown, Elva Bright, Jim Coulthard, Sarah Coulthard, Elsie Jackson, Buck McKenzie, Margaret McKenzie, Kaelene McMillan, Rene Mohammed, Lily Neville

Coordinators: Gillian Bovoro and Eva Sallis Website: David Mutton Artwork: Salote Bovoro and Kaeshan-Rae Khan Administration: Yasmin Aleem and Jenni Devereaux Major sponsors: Raimond Gaita, Greg Shalit and Miriam Faine Supporters and Sponsors: Australian Education Union, Denise Champion, Sonja Dechian, Burr Dodd, Ron and Sue Fraser, Barbara Hornung, Lolo Houbein, Jo McDonald: Port Stationary and Office Products, Heather Millar, CJR and LJ Payne, Roger Sallis, Bernhard Schebeck, Celia Summerfield, Guy Tunstill, Franziska Wagenfeld, Arnold Zable