Dr Alana Brekelmans, Deakin University and Charles Darwin University

The Turtuni Framework. In these two photos we reflect on the 2023 NAIDOC theme ‘for our elders’, and the role that elders play in our Indigenous-led collaborative research project on the Tiwi Islands, NT. 

Tiwi community-based researcher Mavis Kerinauia has been leading research on developing ‘The Turtuni Framework’, an engagement tool guiding transdisciplinary and cross-cultural work with Tiwi Murrakupuni (Country). The Turtuni Framework, which is visually represented in a painting, brings important cultural concepts to the forefront in knowledge-sharing situations where Tiwi Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western Scientific methodologies come together. 

The Turtuni Story describes people walking together across Murrakupuni through the past, present, and future in a way that respects elders’ knowledge and empowers future leaders. As part of our work, we have been consulting with Senior Elders to discuss how the Turtuni Framework can guide Ngapaningimarri Nakingirramini (Coming together to learn about stories). The first photograph depicts Mavis working with cultural mentor and knowledge broker Callista Kantilla to define important Tiwi concepts that underpin collaborative work for Murrakupuni. The second photograph depicts Zelie Tipiloura sharing the Turtuni Story with baby Vivian Kerinauia. This process of passing on knowledge about Tiwi discipline, language, country, and policy keeps Murrakupuni strong and will assist in future planning for social and emotional well-being, ecology, and sustainability. 

Team: Mavis Kerinauia, Alana Brekelmans, Margaret Ayre, Michaela Spencer, Alys Young, Emily Nicholson. 

This piece has been extracted from an online gallery of images from Indigenous ecological practitioners around Australia. Images in this collection tell the stories of programs continuing, reviving and protecting the ecological practices and knowledge held by First Nations people for millennia – consult the full gallery here.