Kaurna People

 Kaurna-Miyurna : The History of a Name

We believe that the local name for the people of the Adelaide Plains and their language which is drawn from the language of the land is Miyurna ‘people’. It is the direct equivalent of Kaurna (= Kornar) ‘people’ which is drawn from the neighbouring Ngarrindjeri and Ramindjeri languages. Miyurna ‘people’ means exactly the same thing as Yolŋu, Tiwi, Nyungar (or Noongah) and many other such similar names used for languages in various parts of Australia. The earliest documents refer to the people of the Adelaide Plains in various ways, but most often simply as “the Adelaide Tribe”. More details can be found in our informative pdf presentation.

KWK

Kaurna Warra Karrpanthi

Kaurna Warra Karrpanthi (KWK, Supporting Kaurna Language) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, established in 2013 and registered with the Government of Australia under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (ATSI Act).  KWK was registered as ICN 7967 on 24.10.2013

All directors of KWK are Kaurna persons.

Since 2014, KWK has been involved with requests for Kaurna names and translations. 

  • Support the reclamation and promotion of the Language of the Kaurna Nation within and outside of the Kaurna Nation community.

    Support the accredited and non-accredited training of Kaurna Aboriginal language teachers for professional services to the Kaurna community and the wider education sector in South Australia.

    Support Kaurna Language revival activities, including research, development and teaching of the language.

    Support Kaurna language research.

    Support the production of Kaurna language resources, materials and teaching aides.

    Support Kaurna language promotion and awareness-raising, including specific website projects.

    Lobby for the official recognition of the Kaurna Language in Kaurna Country.

    Support the international recognition of the Kaurna Language Reclamation program as an endangered language.

    Apply for, receive and manage third-party funding, donations and other financial assistance in support and on behalf of the Kaurna Language program.

    Support KWP collaboration with partners within and outside of the Kaurna Nation community.

    Safeguard the knowledge of, and the research into, the Kaurna Language by establishing a permanent archive.

  • Promote and advance health and wellbeing by means of the redevelopment of the Kaurna Language for the Kaurna Nation community.

    Provide social and cultural benefits to the Kaurna Nation.

    Maintain, protect, promote and support the culture, spiritual beliefs, Kaurna Traditions and Laws,social progress, development and other interests of the Kaurna Nation.

    Enter into legally binding agreements or joint ventures with any other person, persons ororganisations for the benefit of the Kaurna Language Movement.

    Establish and maintain a community fund (trust) for the benefit of the Kaurna Language Reclamation Movement.

    Support and provide education, training, employment and cultural opportunities for the Kaurna Nation.

 

KWP

Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi

Established in 2002 by Kaurna Elders, Dr Kauwanu Lewis Yarlupurka O'Brien and Dr Alitya Wallara Rigney together with Linguist, Assoc Prof Rob Amery, it comprised a body of Kaurna people, teachers, linguists and language enthusiasts who were passionate about the reclamation and revival of the Kaurna language. The KWP committee grew out of a series of Kaurna language development workshops funded by a University of Adelaide small grant in 2000.

KWP is still hosted by the School of Humanities, at the University of Adelaide and funded by the Commonwealth Government through the Indigenous Languages & the Arts (ILA) program and the Australian Research Council (ARC). The KWP team continues to be a collaboration between Kaurna language workers and non-Indigenous mentors and researchers. They produce Kaurna language resources, and especially online media Kaurna Language Hub, to support the learning and teaching of the Kaurna language. The KWP team works collaboratively with community organisations such as Kaurna Warra Karrpanthi (KWK), Warra Wangkatitya and Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation (KYAC).