Yarkuwa is a Traditional Owner organisation based in the town of Deniliquin in the Riverina Region of New South Wales. It was formed in 2003 to ensure traditional owner knowledge was preserved in future generations
The aims of the organisation are:
To collate and maintain cultural, heritage and environmental information as it relates to Wamba Wamba and Perrepa Perrepa country.
To provide an educational service to the wider community including schools and community groups.
To engage in negotiations with Local, State and Federal and other agencies on matters relating to culture, heritage and the environment.
To provide the means for members to develop skills that will allow them to be involved in the provision of educational and research services.
To provide a centre to facilitate the transfer of knowledge from one generation to the next.
To acquire and hold title to land and water for the purposes of economic and cultural development
Awards
2004 Deniliquin Business Award for Innovative Contribution from the Indigenous Community
2005 Deniliquin Business Award for Innovative Contribution from the Indigenous Community NSW Premiers Publics Sector Award - Bronze Award Yarkuwa, NSW State Forests and TAFE NSW
2006 TAFE NSW Gilli Award for Industry partnership - Yarkuwa, NSW State Forests and TAFE NSW
2009 Murray Catchment Natural Resource management Award MLDRIN Indigenous Award NSW Landcare Awards 3rd Place in Indigenous Awards
2017 Jeanette Crew NSW Museums and Galleries Imaging Awards – Lifetime Contribution to Aboriginal Culture in NSW
2018 Deniliquin Australia Day Certificate of Achievement , Bill Hermiston Memorial Environmental Award (Deniliquin Lagoon Group) Finalist Innovation Category Deniliquin Business Awards
Project timeline
2000-2003
Denilquin TAFE project building local research skills
2002
Local Historic Photo Exhibition
2003
Registration of Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre Aboriginal Corporation
NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs Major Grant
2004
NSW Protecting our Places Project
2007-2008
NSW Environment Trust Project – Asset Based Community Development and Environmental projects
2009
Community Support Service (CSS) later Indigenous Community Links (ICL) Commonwealth - Deniliquin and Balranald
Parent and Community Engagement (PACE) Commonwealth – Deniliquin and Balranald
Indigenous Sports Grants (Commonwealth)
NSW Carers Research Project
Werai Indigenous Protected Area Consultation Project (Commonwealth)
2012
Research partnership, Macquarie University - Changing social and economic conditions of Aboriginal people and families in Deniliquin 1965-2015
2016
Local Landcare Coordinator Initiative
2017 (2019)
Tityap Telkaya Indigenous Advancement Strategy
2018 (2021)
NSW Carer Investment Program
2003 - Present
Cultural heritage assessments
Participation in regional Natural Resource Management Advisory Committees
NAIIDCO and Reconciliation Events
Local Celebrations of culture
Family research
Submissions to Government
2009 - Present
Language Project including Indigenous Languages and Arts program (Commonwealth) and Our Languages Our Way (NSW)
Involvement in Aboriginal Languages strategies and recent consultation about the NSW Aboriginal Languages Bill
Arts projects including Regional Arts Funding (NSW), Arts NSW Exhibition Funding
Annual Wamba Wamba Perrepa Perrepa Cultural Celebrations in October
