The Tiwi Islands is situated approx. 100km north of Darwin. A place rich in culture, language, history, and beautiful landscapes, Tiwi people generously and proudly share their knowledge, wisdom, art, elite sporting abilities, land and culture with the world. Despite this, Tiwi people have and continue to be deeply affected by colonisation and dispossession, and experience historically and to this day, some of the highest suicide rates in Australia.
Led by Cathy Stassi, Mary Munkara, Ancilla and Francis-Xavier Kurrupuwu (Tiwi Elders) and supported by Dr Josie Povey (Research Fellow, Menzies School of Health Research), the Ngawurramangajirri work represents a Tiwi led collaboration between Elders, researchers, and LGBTIQ+SB community to improve mental health and wellbeing. Established in 2018, the Ngawurrmangajirri group aim to “support Tiwi people to heal, by strengthening and caring for language and culture, ourselves, community, families, children and elders. We support people to come together, to heal on country and learn old ways and new ways. We share and learn our Tiwi language and culture. We promote respect, communication, and encourage people to check in with how they are feeling”, Ngawurramangajirri group, 2024. Since being established the group have co-designed, developed, and disseminated a number of digital mental health resources in Tiwi Language, which encourage healing, and connection to culture, language and others.
This presentation will showcase work from the Ngawurramangajirri (we care for each other) LGBTIQ+SB project, which has gathered views and experiences of LGBTIQ+SB community members, and is developing a digital resource to promote help seeking. This work strongly aligns with an holistic, social and emotional wellbeing approach to suicide prevention. This presentation will also include, the first ever performance of the song Ngawa ngirimika (we are family), a song about healing and connection written by the Ngarukuruwala singing group in collaboration with the Tiwi Islands sistergirl community, which has been produced in collaboration with the Ngawurramangajirri group.