First Nations language celebrated at Kaurna Day with new songbook

Titled Yurikurringa Ngadluku Paltirna: Listen to Our Songs, the Kaurna songbook is a contemporary reworking of the original Kaurna Paltinna, created in the 1990s.

Developed in collaboration with Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi (KWP), the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM), Kaurna Plains School, independent Aboriginal artists, and Kaurna community members, it contains 15 songs in Kaurna language or featuring Kaurna words. The songbook serves as both an educational tool and a cultural archive.

With 109 out of 123 spoken Indigenous languages in Australia listed as endangered, the urgency to safeguard language and cultural identity has never been greater. The Kaurna songbook aims to combat language decline among younger generations of Kaurna people, strengthening identity, resilience, and well-being within the community.

Kaurna Day: Tirkanthi - Ngutu - Taikurrinthi (Learning - Knowledge - Be United Together) is a free public event honouring and celebrating First Nations people and culture where the new songbook further strengthens the commitment to culture preservation. Following the success of the University of Adelaide’s first Kaurna Day last year, this year’s event expands its celebration of music, dance, and storytelling, by extending from the University of Adelaide’s North Terrace campus to Roseworthy, Waite, and UniSA’s City West Campus.

The day features a sunrise smoking ceremony at the University of Adelaide’s North Terrace, Roseworthy and Waite campus, followed by a breakfast catered by Creative Native.

The North Terrace campus features community stalls with First Nations artists, makers, and businesses, alongside live performances by DEM MOB, Jamie Goldsmith and Taikurtinna Dance Group, Kaurna Plains School Choir, and more.

Academic showcases, student presentations, collaborative information sessions, traditional games, and live artmaking by artist Brooke Rigney are also part of the program. Meanwhile at UniSA’s City West Campus, Aboriginal leader Jack Buckskin is running Kaurna language workshops throughout the day.

Special limited-edition prints of the Kaurna songbook will be provided for free to schools and community centres in the Kaurna Plains region. It will also be available for free download on the Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi website, along with audio recordings of the songs.  

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) of the University of Adelaide Professor Steve Larkin said:

“Kaurna Day is a celebration of unity and cultural pride, weaving together the rich histories of the Kaurna community and the academic realms of the University of Adelaide and UniSA. It strengthens our connections through shared knowledges and respect, fostering an inclusive environment that empowers First Nations people.

“Together, we are building a brighter future, honouring the past while paving the way for growth, understanding, and lasting partnerships.”

Project Officer at Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi (KWP) Jaylon Newchurch said:

"The songbook plays a crucial role in the preservation and revitalisation of the Kaurna language, demonstrating how far language resources have come since the 1990s. It honours the work of those who helped restore the language and serves as a living testament to its resilience.

“By showcasing Kaurna in a modern context, the songbook helps ensure that the language remains vibrant for future generations while staying deeply connected to our roots and our old people who came before us.”

Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Adelaide Professor Peter Høj AC said:

"Kaurna Day represents the University’s deep connection with the Kaurna community. The land on which many of our campuses stand has been home to the Kaurna people for thousands of years. Recognising and celebrating this enduring connection is essential to fostering meaningful reconciliation and ensuring that the language, culture, and traditions of the Kaurna people continue to thrive.”

UniSA Pro Vice Chancellor: Aboriginal Leadership and Strategy Professor Tina Brodie said:

“Kaurna Day is an opportunity to recognise the ongoing connection of the Kaurna People to their place and to celebrate Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Cultures more broadly. The launch of the Kaurna songbook is a representation of the generosity of the Kaurna people and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ who share knowledges and culture with us all.”

UniSA Vice-Chancellor and President Professor David Lloyd said:

“We are honoured to be able to recognise and celebrate our connection to the Kaurna lands, the people, their history and culture. Kaurna Day allows us an opportunity to further strengthen the long-standing connection to the lands upon which our two universities stand and operate.

“The Kaurna and wider Aboriginal communities have enriched us with their knowledge and perspectives and it’s a privilege to be able to share that and celebrate the reclaiming and revitalisation of the endangered Kaurna language.”