The Nharangga Cultural Day held at Minlagawi Gum Flat on Sunday 3 May 2026 was once again a huge success, with more than 300 people gathering to enjoy a powerful day of culture, connection and community, despite the poor weather forecast and cold and windy conditions.

Minlagawi Gum Flat holds deep cultural significance for Nharangga dhura (Narungga people). For thousands of years, it has served as a meeting place for the four Narungga clan groups – Garnarra (north), Windara (east), Dhilba (south) and Warri (west).

The Nharangga Cultural Day proudly continued this tradition, bringing together Narungga people and the wider community, in the spirit of reconciliation and respect.

The event was emceed by Sonya Rankine, a proud Narungga woman and member of Council’s Nharangga Cultural Day Planning Committee.

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The day opened with a Welcome to Country by Shanaid and Skylah Sansbury, and Maddison Warrior, with Elder Uncle Michael Wanganeen. Following was a Smoking Ceremony led by Uncle Peter Turner, with assistance from Clem Newchurch. Sonya Rankine performed two songs in Nharangga warra (Narungga language), whilst the Smoking Ceremony occurred.

Prior to the panel discussion, Narungga woman Mali Harkin, a young poet and playwright, performed her multi-awarded poem, ‘The Algae will Stay Another Day’.

The panel discussion hosted by Sonya Rankine brought together respected voices, Uncle Rex Angie, Uncle Eddie Newchurch, Natalie Harkin, Tshara Rigney, and Rick Slager, to reflect on the importance of the Narungga language. The conversation explored this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, ‘All in for Reconciliation’, along with the upcoming NAIDOC Week theme, ‘50 Years of Deadly’.

Traditional food and bush ingredients were another highlight, with Newchurch Family Farm providing tacos with quandong chilli, Auntie Daphney Rickett (Bush Tucker Presenter) providing traditional damper with wattle seed cream and quandong jam, and Nharangga Aboriginal Cultural Tours providing kangaroo tail soup. Sharing and coming together over food has always been a central part of traditional Narungga culture.

The day also featured a wide range of engaging activities:

• Market stalls from Narungga artists Asta Wanganeen of Starlight Dreaming, Jay Milera of Jay Milera Art and Guuranda Creatives, Uncle Peter Turner of Bushfoods and Culture, Sonya Rankine of LakunMara, Temaana Sanderson-Bromley and team of Mardlaapa Designs, and Harley Hall of Aboriginal Art Designs;
• Face painting by Shanaid and Skylah Sansbury, Maddison Warrior, and Zarah Thomas;
• Guided cultural walks with Uncle Peter Turner;
• Nharangga language resources from the Nharangga Aboriginal Progress Association;
• Come and go workshops with Jay Milera, Asta Wanganeen, Harley Hall, Quahli Newchurch, Willis Daveson, Bianca Newchurch, Mandi Faerie, Clem Newchurch, and Pauly Dixon Jnr.
• Sessions with Aaron Smith, Narungga Ranger at Dhilba Guuranda – Innes National Park (National Park), along with Landscape Board staff, detailing the Co-management activities at the National Park and the Marna Banggara project; and
• Lantern making to support performance of Winda the Owl: Stories in Fire and Lanterns, the major event kicking off Copper Coast Council’s Flame Festival Weekend, with Sheree Rankine and Takari Owen, allowing for sharing of Narungga Creation stories.

The day ended on a high with a performance of the Wawi Creation song by Point Pearce students, supported by Aboriginal Educators Tshara Rigney and Takari Owen. This song was written only this year, by Tshara and Takari in Narungga language. It is the final song of four for each of the Narungga totems, namely Wawi (kangaroo), the totem of the northern Narungga clan group Garnarra.

The event is principally funded and coordinated by Council, with guidance from Nharangga Aboriginal Progress Association, and supported by a planning group including Auntie Lesley and Uncle Michael Wanganeen, Sonya Rankine, and Council’s Environment Officer Letitia Dahl-helm and Arts and Cultural Facilitator Molly Flanagan.

The event was financially supported by the Landscape Board, as well as Country Arts SA. It was also a Connection Communities Event sponsored by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions under the Family and Business Support Program, which enabled the hiring of three large pavilions, providing much needed shelter from the weather.

The event is held in recognition of National Reconciliation Week and delivers on Council’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

Learn more about the day by watching the short 2 minute film of the 2023 event here.