Country Arts SA pays respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognises their continuing connection and spiritual relationship to these lands, waters and skies. We are committed to listening and helping care for Country, and to safeguard, share and celebrate First Nations’ living cultures.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the following web page contains images and words of deceased persons.
Indigenous storytelling begins and ends with land, and this story is from the Ruwe (Country) of the Ramindjeri Larkinjeri (clan) of the Ngarrindjeri Nation.
Kumarangk (Hindmarsh Island) is an island at the end of Murrundi (Murray River), nestled amongst the lower lakes and the beginning of the Coorong in South Australia. Kumarangk holds stories that appertain to the business of Ngarrindjeri mi:minar (women).
Kumarangk is a major project telling the true story of the Ngarrindjeri women who resisted the construction of the Hindmarsh Island bridge in Goolwa. Kumarangk has a three-pronged approach with a theatre performance on Country, an exhibition and a film, underpinned by a research and community archive.
The outcomes will be presented in three major festivals: Tarnanthi, Adelaide Festival and the Adelaide Film Festival in 2026 and 2027.
The Kumarangk project platforms the collective stories of the Ngarrindjeri mi:minar who were involved in the resistance of the bridge and the protection of land and sea. This unique Ngarrindjeri story is one that has not been told from their perspective.
The Kumarangk project offers the opportunity to create unique and powerful works that represent the strength of Aboriginal women, who have often found themselves not heard when speaking up on their rights and culture.
Through the process of truth-telling, the Kumarangk project will seek to provide a form of restorative justice for the Ngarrindjeri Women, by replacing the vitriol they faced at the time in defending their culture and Country with appreciation from a new generation of audiences who will, critically, learn about history from a First Nations perspective.
“On behalf of the Ngarrindjeri women, we have already been tried and convicted by the Federal and State Governments, without a fair hearing. I am not a fabricator and before I leave this world I want my name, and the names of the other Ngarrindjeri men and women, cleared.”
The late Aunty Dr Doreen Kartinyeri (Media Release excerpt, February 13, 1997)
Projects
Exhibition
Through a series of paintings and wireworks, artist Aunty Sandra Saunders originally retold the story of the controversy in her The Hindmarsh Island Collection. The creation of this collection became a process of healing and a way to regain control of her own narrative that had often been deliberately misrepresented in mainstream media. The exhibition component of the Kumarangk project will re-exhibit some of the paintings from this collection alongside newly commissioned pieces from Ngarrindjeri mi:minar artists. The works of art will be exhibited at prominent Adelaide-based gallery, Adelaide Contemporary Experimental (ACE), with the potential to tour regionally and nationally.
Documentary
Combining newly recorded stories, archival footage and animation, the observational documentary will be an in-depth, truth-telling account of what happened and the impacts it had on the mi:minar and Ngarrindjeri Nation. It will also capture the journey of the creation of the three parts of the Kumarangk project, and the momentum through the process of storytelling and transferring it to present on the stage and in the exhibition. The documentary will provide a long-lasting medium for these stories which will then be available for future Ngarrindjeri – and a wider audience – to learn about the incredible plight of the mi:minar.
The feature documentary film will be presented as part of Adelaide Film Festival 2026.
Performance
A new theatrical performance will be created to tell the stories of some of the prominent women who were involved in the resistance. While the piece will recount the women’s stories during this troubling time – it won’t dwell on the trauma and pain, instead focussing on their resilience and strength. The production will include a multimedia presentation of live performance and Ngarrindjeri culture. This portion of the project will be heavily guided by the mi:minar and their wishes for how their stories are to be represented and portrayed. The performance is intended to be held on Country in Goolwa for the 2027 Adelaide Festival, with the potential for future touring.
The theatrical production will be supported by Ilbijerri Theatre Company
Archive
The Kumarangk archive is a community-led archive that centres Ngarrindjeri resistance and activism, and the struggle to protect culture and heritage, as a significant political movement in South Australia’s history. It includes materials relevant to the campaign led by, and in solidarity with, the Ngarrindjeri community in response to the Hindmarsh Island (Kumarangk) bridge development. This archive is supported by the State Library of SA and Flinders University and will contribute directly to the creation of Kumarangk as a major community-led body of work for the Adelaide Festival, Tarnanthi Festival, and Adelaide Film Festival. This creative project contributes to the public honouring and collective truth-telling of many Ngarrindjeri women and community, who actively campaigned against the building of the bridge to Kumarangk.
The Kumarangk archive is led by Associate Professor Natalie Harkin and Research Assistant Denise Noack.
History
Since colonisation from British forces, Aboriginal people have experienced waves of violence and genocidal acts: some of these violent acts are gendered. In the 1990s and early 2000s another wave of violence was inflicted on Ngarrindjeri mi:minar, through the proposal of a marina and bridge to Kumarangk and then the intense media coverage that followed when they resisted the development.
Through years of extreme legal, government and public scrutiny, mixed in with accusations of fabricating their cultural stories, the women remained steadfast in their belief and knowledge that this land was sacred, and these proposals would damage this site. By the end of the controversy the bridge had been built, the marina had financially collapsed, and the women were vindicated by a judge. While the story was often national news fodder, the women and their legacy have largely been forgotten, except by Ngarrindjeri People.
Creative Team
Country Arts SA is guided by the Ngarrindjeri mi:minar Cultural Authority, who are Sandra Saunders, Aunty Ellen Trevorrow, Aunty Margaret Brodie (representing her late mother, Aunty Veronica Brodie) and Tahlia and Illira Wanganeen (representing their nana the late Dr Doreen Kartinyeri). These women are at the centre of the Kumarangk project. It is their cultural authority and oversight across all elements which is paramount.
Country Arts SA is the leading producer on all three creative projects overseen by a First Nations team including First Nations Arts Director, Samantha Yates Taungurung working as executive producer on the project, First Nations Creative Producer, Dominic Guerrera Ngarrindjeri/Kaurna, working as creative producer on all projects as well as co-curator of the exhibition, First Nations Arts and Culture Manager, Joshua Trevorrow Ngarrindjeri, working as Kumarangk documentary film co-producer; Major Projects Producer, Damien Cassidy working as Theatre Producer and Kumarangk Associate Producer, Jayda Wilson Gugada/Wirangu working across all projects and as archive assistant.
Dominic will curate the exhibition alongside Danni Zuvela (ACE Artistic Director). The theatre work will be written by Tracey Rigney Wotjobaluk/Ngarrindjeri,directed by Glenn Shea Wathaurong/Ngarrindjeri and dramaturgy by Jacob Boehme Kaurna/Narrunga with support by Ilbijerri Theatre Company. The film will be written and directed by Tracey Rigney and is co-produced by Joshua Trevorrow and Carolyn Johnson.
Time and resources are allocated for all the creative contributors to be able to connect with Country, the mi:minar and their stories.
Support Kumarangk
Significant projects like Kumarangk rely on donations and support from individuals and organisations.
Should this project align with your philanthropic interests, we would love to hear from you.
Please contact Development Director, Cassandra Barendregt.
Partners
The Kumarangk creative outcomes will be presented as part of three major Adelaide festivals.
Exhibition
Documentary
Performance
Archive
Funding bodies
Images
Image 1: L-R Sandra Saunders, Aunty Margaret Brodie and Aunty Ellen Trevorrow, photography Colleen Raven Strangways
Image 2 (behind quote): Long Walk mi:minar by bus, Kumarangk Coalition archive.
Image 3: Support Spiritual Freedom, photography Denis Noak
Image 4: Aunty Dodo Don’t Mess with Miminis Business, photography Denis Noak
Image 5: Stop the Bridge poster