Funding to support connection to Country in WA communities

• Half a million dollars in grants for 20 First Nations' arts and culture projects
• Connecting to Country 2023 to 2024 recipients each granted up to $25,000
• Supported activities include painting, storytelling, language preservation, traditional craft and song and dance, taking place on-Country across regional Western Australia and metropolitan Perth

The State Government's Connecting to Country grant program is continuing to support Western Australia's Aboriginal people and organisations to transfer knowledge between generations and preserve culture with 20 projects receiving up to $25,000 this year.

A total of $500,000 will be distributed for on-Country activities across the Kimberley, Mid West, Gascoyne, Goldfields-Esperance, Pilbara, Wheatbelt, Great Southern, South West and in metropolitan Perth, with projects to strengthen communities starting from May 2024.

The recipients sharing the funding are:

• Mantjiljarra Yulparirra Pty Ltd, $25,000 for native flora identification;
• Edmund Rice Centre WA Inc, $24,966 for Kadijinny Boodjar;
• Wanjira Nangirany Cultural Foundation LTD, $25,000 for Karajarri Cultural Revitalisation and Community Strengthening project;
• Ngalla Yorga Waangkan Aboriginal Corporation, $24,500 for intergenerational knowledge sharing;
• Warmun Art Aboriginal Corporation, $25,000 for the 2024 Gija Connecting to Country program;
• Theona Councillor, $24,975 for 170th anniversary of the massacre at Pelican Springs;
• Undalup Association Inc, $23,875 for Kaartijin Yerunga Boodja - Knowledge on Country;
• Yawuru Jarndu Aboriginal Corporation, $24,881 for response to Jijawiliwili Niyamarri (shell hill/midden) Buru (Country);
• Rohan Collard, $25,000 for Maaman Kaatadjin Boodja Bidi;
• Vernice Gillies, $25,000 for Koomal Maat (Possum Tracks) Cultural Learning Project;
• Community Arts Network Wes Australia Ltd, $25,000 for Unfinished Business;
• City of Melville, $25,000 for Connection to Country camp with Willagee Youth Drop-in;
• Tara Gower, $25,000 for contemporary Indigenous dance program;
• Ngarlawangga Aboriginal Corporation, $25,000 for Back to Country fieldtrip;
• Kalyuku Ninti - Puntuku Ngurra Limited, $25,000 for Wuurlkurramartaji - The Story of Belonging to Wuurlkurra;
• Mirning Traditional Lands Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, $24,940 for Mirning Language Revitalisation Strategy;
• Kimberley Language Resource Centre (Aboriginal Corporation), $25,000 for language and culture on Country;
• Studio Schools of Australia Ltd, $24,570 for healing and lessons on Country;
• Mara Arts Aboriginal Corporation, $25,000 for Banggumarrijimanha Barna - Coming together on Country;
• Yanunijarra Aboriginal Organisation RNTBC, $25,000 for Ngurrara Connecting to Country camp.

The intention of the Connecting to Country program is to:

• facilitate sharing of cultural knowledge and skills between generations, such as the preservation of language, stories and dance;
• recognise Aboriginal cultural leadership within the Aboriginal community and support leadership development in young people;
• contribute to stronger community mental health and wellbeing; and
• strengthen, protect and maintain traditional ways of maintaining cultural knowledge.

More information about Connecting to Country can be found on the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries website:

https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/funding/arts-funding/connecting-to-country

Comments attributed to Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:

"The Cook Government is proud to provide half a million dollars in funding for First Nations led projects that preserve the world's oldest living culture here in WA, from regional remote places to Boorloo (Perth).

"Connecting to Country is about strengthening Aboriginal communities and encouraging intergenerational knowledge sharing.

"Among 20 projects - each receiving up to $25,000 in 2024 - there are activities such as painting, story sharing, traditional craft and much more that will take place right across Western Australia.

"As we approach National Reconciliation Week, it's important to recognise the path of walking together. Supporting preservation of Aboriginal language, truth telling, art, song and dance is a significant way to protect and maintain traditional culture."

Comments attributed to Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti:

"These grants honour and celebrate Aboriginal culture in Western Australia and help keep the stories alive.

"It is fantastic to see the Cook Government investing in on-Country initiatives from the Kimberley to the South West."