In the 1840s pupils at the Dresden missionary school at Piltawardli wrote letters to the Dresden Mission Society. These letters are now coming home to Kaurna Country.

On behalf of the Kaurna Community, the letters will be housed in the Rare Books & Special Collections of the Barr Smith Library at the University of Adelaide and thus become accessible for research and education.

This is a significant gesture from Leipzig Mission which held the letters as part of the archival collection of the Dresden Mission Society. The letters are a tangible connection to the Kaurna community of the 1840s, and their lodgement with the University is a
testament to the collaboration over the last few years between KWP and Leipzig Mission in the reclamation of Kaurna Language.

The letters will be handed over on behalf of the Leipziger Missionswerk by the Asia-Pacific program coordinator, Rev. Hans-Georg Tannhäuser and the business manager, Martin Habelt.

Dr Lewis Yarlupurka O’Brien and Dr Alitya Wallara Rigney will accept the letters on behalf of Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi.

Paul Wilkins, Deputy Librarian, University Libraries, the University of Adelaide will accept the letters on behalf of the Library.

Professor Lester-Irabinna Rigney, Dean Indigenous Education, the University of Adelaide will lead the proceedings.

Afternoon tea will be served.