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Welcome to Kaurna land

It is now commonplace for events to begin with a welcome to Kaurna land speech by a Kaurna Elder, often Kauwanu (Uncle) Lewis O'Brien or Ngarpadla (Auntie) Josie Agius, or sometimes by a younger person such as a student at Kaurna Plains School where Kaurna is taught. Whilst these speeches take a variety of forms, a minimalist Kaurna speech is reproduced here in order to familiarise people with a few of the common elements within these speeches.

Minimalist Kaurna Welcome (Lester Irabinna Rigney)

Meyunna! Na marni purrutye?

Ngai narri Lester Irabinna Kudnuitya Rigney.

Ngai wanggandi “Marni naa budni Kaurna yertaanna. Irandi yerta!”

Ngaityo yakkanandalya, yungandalya.

Translation:

Ladies and gentlemen, are you all good? (ie hello)
My name is Lester Irabinna Rigney.
I say “It’s good that you (all) came to Kaurna country. Exclusively Indigenous (ie sovereign) land” (ie welcome)
My dear sister(s) (and) brother(s). (ie thank you)

Several non-Indigenous organisations are now wanting to respond with some words of recognition of Kaurna country and Kaurna people in the language of the land. Accordingly statements of acknowledgement have now been developed in Kaurna.

Content courtesy of:
Kaurna Warra Pintyandi
Signatories: Dr Alice Wallara Rigney, Lewis O'Brien and Rob Amery