Arnhem Land Short Documentary Film Festival

Join Karrkad Kanjdji Trust (KKT) to celebrate the transformational work led by First Nations peoples to care for Country, culture and community.

KKT is an Indigenous-led conservation trust, founded by Traditional Owners to fulfill their vision for health Country, culture and communities in one of Australia’s largest Aboriginal freehold estates: Arnhem Land, NT.

KKT is screening three short documentary films created by and with their partner organisations, showcasing the strengths and achievements of communities. Following the films, there will be a panel discussion with prominent Bininj (Indigenous) leaders. This is a rare opportunity to hear from those on the frontline of global efforts to regenerate our natural environment, take action on climate change, improve access to education, achieve gender equity, and support the continuation of the world’s oldest living culture.

Please contact mail@kkt.org.au if you would like to attend.

About the films

Our Knowledge Grows; Nawarddeken Academy Ltd – This short documentary looks at how a west Arnhem Land community’s decision to fight government policy and educate its children on-country a decade ago has grown into a movement for bi-cultural community-owned independent education.

Strong Women for Healthy Country Forum; Strong Women for Healthy Country Network – Join over 200 First Nations women and allies working in land management across the Northern Territory for their annual forum at Pudakul on Limilngan-Wulna Country.

Ngarridurndeng Kured (Return to Country); Warddeken Land Management Ltd – This will be the first ever screening of this new feature sharing the story of Nawarddeken people returning to their ancestral homelands to reinstate traditional cultural and ecological practices.

About the panel

We will be joined by six people who have been closely involved in these films, facilitated by ABC journalist Dan Bourchier, including:

• Michelle Bangarr, Nawarddeken Academy Director and Traditional Owner of Marrirn. Michelle is an educator who is actively involved as the Nawarddeken Academy’s Cultural Education Advisor. She lives with her family in Manmoyi, Warddeken IPA, and recently represented the Nawarddeken Academy at Garma Festival.
• Emma Masters, Weave Films filmmaker and journalist. Emma was the director and producer of Our Knowledge Grows. As a former ABC producer, she now works on freelance projects for media organisations such as BBC, The Project, National Geographic and Seven Sunrise.
• Shantelle Miller, artist and advocate for women caring for Country. Shantelle is a member of the Message Sticks Group for the Strong Women for Healthy Country Network. Based out of Bulman in Central Arnhem Land, she is connected with Rembarrnga, Ngalakan and Dalabon peoples through her mother; and Arrernte, Pertame, Luritja, and Ngalia peoples through her father.
• Venicia Murray, Mimal Land Management Senior Ranger and Rembarrnga woman. Venicia represents her community as a member of the Message Sticks Group for the Strong Women for Healthy Country Network. Based out of Weemol in Central Arnhem Land, she is also a research associate with the University of Queensland, investigating and promoting national advocacy opportunities for women caring for Country.
• Dale Pascoe, Homeland School Company Chairman and Traditional Owner of Gamardi, Djelk IPA. Dale, a senior leader of the Mappi Clan from the Wurlaki language group, is a strong advocate of bilingual education in the Maningrida community and surrounding homelands of the Djelk IPA. Dale lives with his family at Gamardi and seeks to establish independent bi-cultural education for his grandchildren on country.
• Olga Scholes, Nawarddeken Academy CEO. Olga has worked as an educator for around 25 years and has been essential to holding Indigenous knowledge and governance at the heart of the Nawarddeken Academy’s model for bi-cultural education.
• Nic Sharah, Homeland School Company CEO. Nic is a proud Gamilaroi man from Central West NSW with a background in education. He has 12 years experience working in the community development space and has spent the last 5 years working in the West Arnhem Region. Recently, he was appointed CEO of the Maningrida Homeland School Company, where he’s working with Bininj leaders from the Djelk IPA to establish Independent Bi-Cultural education on country.
• Dean Yibarbuk, KKT Co-Chair and Traditional Owner of Djinkarr, Djelk IPA. Dean is a multilingual qualified researcher and Aboriginal ecologist with a wealth of experience in complex and multifaceted community-based projects. Dean is also Director of Warddeken Land Management Limited, the Nawarddeken Academy, Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (ALFA, NT) and Indigenous Carbon Industry Network (ICIN).

Please contact mail@kkt.org.au if you would like to attend.