Ned Thomas, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

The first voices to greet the crowd at Victoria Square, Kadina, on Monday, July 6, belonged to the next generation.

As two young girls danced barefoot beside their mother, Narungga performer Takari Owen, songs in Nharangga language drifted across the square, opening the Copper Coast’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week.

For many, it was a captivating start to the day.

For Aunty Tania Wanganeen, it meant something much bigger.

It was years of language revival unfolding before her eyes.

Hosted by Point Pearce Aboriginal Corporation, the celebration brought hundreds of people together for a day of music, dance, storytelling and culture, embracing this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, 50 Years of Deadly.

Finding her voice

After studying Aboriginal performance at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Ms Owen returned home to Point Pearce determined to reconnect with her culture and help ensure the Nharangga language continues to grow through music, dance and education.

On Monday, her daughters Amiwarre and Ocea danced alongside her, already becoming part of the story she hopes to pass on.

“I wanted my kids to be strong and proud in who they are and where they come from,” Ms Owen said.

“Knowing Nharangga language was a big one for me because I wanted them to be able to speak fluently.”

Away from the stage, Ms Owen works as a school services officer at Central Yorke School’s Point Pearce campus, where she combines language, music and contemporary dance to engage young people with culture.

She said the work had never been about personal recognition.

“It’s not about me,” she said.

“It’s literally about getting the language out there and doing this for my ancestors, doing this for my community.

“I’m just a vessel here to help spread that.”

Watching children embrace the language had reaffirmed why she continued to perform.

“These kids are already removing that layer of shame,” she said.

“If we get them that young, by the time they’re adults they won’t care what people think about speaking the language.

Passing it on

For Ms Wanganeen, seeing that confidence grow in young people is the result of years of dedication.

“We don’t just want to close the gap,” she said.

“We want to completely shut it.

“The next generation is all about strength, confidence and being proud of who they are.”

She remembers when Ms Owen first joined one of her language yarning circles, eager to learn more about her culture.

Since then, Ms Wanganeen has watched her become not only a performer, but also a teacher, mentor and role model for the children following behind her.

“My goal is to train them so they can go out and pass this on to the little ones, because that’s where it’s going to start,” Ms Wanganeen said.

One moment, in particular, has stayed with her.

She recalled watching Amiwarre, Ms Owen’s young daughter, naturally switch between English and Nharangga.

“I said, ‘This is going to be our first fluent speaker’,” Ms Wanganeen said.

“Before I leave this planet, I’ve got a First Nations speaker coming.

“That excites me more than anything.

“I’m witnessing it in real time.”

A future taking shape

Throughout the day, Victoria Square came alive with a Welcome to Country, cultural performances, market stalls, traditional foods, art, music and community activities celebrating the world’s oldest continuing culture.

But for Ms Owen, the heart of the celebration lay in something much simpler.

“It’s all for my ancestors. It’s all for my Country,” she said.

“I’m so big on, ‘Be better than me’. I’m just here to help you get to that.”

As children sang in Nharangga, danced with confidence and followed in the footsteps of those who came before them, it was clear the celebration wasn’t simply marking 50 years of NAIDOC Week.

It was witnessing the next chapter of culture, language and identity being written.

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 7 July 2026.