Wanypatha Yarta Ranger Program
March 17, 2026
The MLT recently joined the Wanypatha Yarta (Good Country) Nukunu Rangers for a day on Country focused on connecting Nukunu language with the landscape they care for.
The Rangers are currently monitoring a range of environmental indicators across Nukunu Country. As part of this work, they are also exploring ways to embed Nukunu placenames and words for Country into their ranger activities. This helps strengthen the connection between language, land management, and cultural knowledge. The Ranger program is using Hydrologists from Flinders University to help monitor levels, and have also recruited a filmmaker and an artist to document and facilitate art activities throughout the day.
MLT staff first observed the rangers in action – watching as they used different types of equipment to monitor tree health and water depth. MLT then facilitated a pronunciation session to support community members in practising the sounds of the Nukunu language. With a helpful pronunciation guide, everyone moved down the list – practising the different sounds followed by a word example, so everyone could become more comfortable hearing and producing the sounds.
AJ, a Nukunu community member and Aboriginal Community Education Officer, who has been involved in the First Nations Languages Education Program (FNLEP), also co-facilitated these sessions by sharing her experiences of learning Nukunu. AJ shared with the group what she has been working on with MLT and Risdon Park Primary School, followed by different ways that have been helpful for her to learn the language. It was incredible to see how language learning can grow through community engagement and persistence.
After the pronunciation session, MLT followed some community members to Mampurti (Mambray Creek) to see the water flowing in the creek. It was a beautiful scene to see. We were very lucky as at this time of year it’s normally too dry for the creek to hold water. The group hoped to capture photos, audio and video to incorporate in future resources for the Wanypatha Yarta Rangers program. Being on Country together created a meaningful opportunity to talk about place, language and the environment.
The day highlighted how language naturally sits alongside ranger work. As the Wanypatha Yarta Nukunu Rangers continue monitoring Country, incorporating Nukunu language will help ensure that cultural knowledge remains an active part of caring for the land. MLT will continue to assist on this project and are looking forward to the next session with them!
If your community is interested in language workshops in your ranger program, want to work on pronunciation, or have any questions get in touch. The MLT runs a variety of projects year round.
