Aboriginal Projects
2005 Aboriginal Projects
Reclaiming Kaurna Funeral Protocols
Funerals sadly, are the events that bring Kaurna people together more often than any other occasion. They are thus are a key opportunity for linguistic and cultural renewal and survival.
Kaurna Warra Pintyandi has produced a booklet of funeral protocols titled ‘Kaurna Palti Wonga’ with accompanying CD and a series of six sympathy cards. Written in the Kaurna language, the resources are being distributed throughout the Kaurna community and placed in public libraries and Aboriginal organizations such as Tauondi College.
The project was launched at the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre, Warriparinga. Nelson Kartammeru Varcoe, an Indigenous man and Lutheran community care worker, is one of the main forces behind the project. From time to time, he conducts funerals, counsels grieving relatives and visits Aboriginal patients in hospital. “To be able to bring language and culture back to the community is a very wonderful and powerful thing,” he said.
Launching the book, Ngarpadla Alitya Wallara Rigney said, “burial ceremonies are just so important and significant....now we have choices.” Georgina Yambo Williams spoke of the spiritual significance of Warriparinga for grieving in terms of ‘coming home’. The launch concluded with hymns sung by a small choir, accompanied by the beautiful guitar of Nelson Varcoe.
The project will enable Kaurna people to conduct a funeral in their own language. It supports and strengthens the leadership of Ngarpadla Alitja Rigney and Lewis Kartammeru O’Brien of the Kaurna language movement through Kaurna Warra Pintyandi. We are grateful to the Mary MacKillop Foundation for its support.
‘Ngaityo yakkanandalya!’ is how the Kaurna people express notions of thanks (when addressed to females).
Dr Rob Amery
Kaurna Warra Pintyandi Committee.
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