Kaṯiṯi Wiṟu, Kaṯiṯi Kantilya, Kaṯiṯi Palya
Over the past two years, the MLT has been running an Oral Hygiene program on the APY Lands to raise oral hygiene awareness among children in remote communities while also strengthening the Yankunytjatjara language.
A Closing the Gap pilot program, this project works with communities in Indulkana and Mimili to promote good oral hygiene practices through community-based workshops and a Yankunytjatjara language focused awareness campaign.
Launched in 2025, the project features artwork by Indulkana artist Kunmaṉara (Tiger) Yaltangki and messaging in Yankunytjatjara. With both a ‘friendly’ and a ‘scary’ approach, the campaign messaging encourages people to maintain strong, healthy teeth while also warning of the dangers of holes in your teeth, rotting teeth and sick teeth.
A core focus of this project is using Yankunytjatjara language to communicate about oral hygiene. By incorporating both the Yankunytjatjara language and local artists, the project ensures that people see their own culture and language reflected in the initiative. Through the distribution of t-shirts, posters, magnets, and stickers, the goal is to establish a long-term project that becomes part of daily life.
At the same time the Yankunytjatjara language has been strengthened by developing new ways of discussing oral hygiene in different community settings, including schools, clinics, and homes. These living language recordings provide valuable insights into how we can strengthen and sustain Yankunytjatjara language in everyday contexts.
Whether it’s a child wearing a t-shirt to school or a family seeing a magnet on the clinic fridge, the strong Yankunytjatjara messaging throughout this project serves as a lasting reminder of the importance of healthy teeth—and the risks of neglecting oral health.
Through this project we have built strong partnerships with health organisations such as Nganampa Health Council and the Dental Hygienist Association of Australia that demonstrate how language and health care can build strong and flourishing language and culture in communities.
More information:
Healthy Teeth – National Indigenous Australians Agency
Dental Hygienist Association of Australia
Indigenous Languages and Arts program