Kiriwirri (Kalyuku Ninti 2023)

"I feel so good to come home and show my family where we lived. Teaching and showing them where we walked a long time ago, and our knowledge of the water places." Nola, Pujiman (desert-born) Elder.

During the 2023 Kalyuku Ninti (KN) trip, 59 traditional owners from Martu and Kulyakartu native title determinations visited Kiriwirri. This rain-making yinta (permanent waterhole) holds a deep cultural and spiritual significance for Martu. For siblings and Elders, Muuki, Meridoo, and Nola, this waterhole is home as it is one of the water places they grew up at while walking across the vast desert with their family.

The visit held a profound purpose for the Elders, as it provided the opportunity to share their (ninti) knowledge of this place with the younger generations and pass on the responsibility to care for the Country. For the younger generations, the visit allowed them to reconnect with their ancestors and reset their spirit, giving them the strength to continue to carry their land, their old people and their heritage for future generations.