In the years that preceded its official formation, founding members worked with Deniliquin TAFE to develop a project on building local research skills.
The project culminated in a local historic photo competition and exhibition in 2002.
The very next year, the Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre Aboriginal Corporation was born, and it obtained its very first major grant from the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
What Yarkuwa has built since is an organisation that works with multiple organisations and agencies to “hold and care for” local knowledge, and provide opportunities for the indigenous and wider community to engage with community and build on personal and professional development.
Yarkuwa manager David Crew has been with the organisation since day one, and he’s not the only one.
“It was only Tracy Hamilton and me in the beginning, but Jeanette Crew and Laura Hand-Ross were on the board then too.
“Laura then became one of the first employees after we were registered, when it started with just three workers. Now we have 20.”
Mr Crew said Yarkuwa was established as a means of celebrating and exploring shared history.
And he said recently political developments have shown that aim is as important today as it was 22 years ago.
“Projects are part of what we do, but we’ve also never lost sight of why we started Yarkuwa.
“The challenge after 22 years is that we’ve done a lot of projects and community events to support a shared history, but there’s still a lot of ignorance and misunderstanding out there.
“The Voice referendum showed us that, and that there is still an 80:20 split in our community.
“Our new centre is one way we can work on that, by providing a space that can be shared and used by the community and where people can learn about the Wamba Wamba Perrepa Perrepa people and culture.”
As well as being the keeper of local knowledge, family histories and shared histories, Yarkuwa also strives to make a difference in a number of key areas.
Its projects fall under the categories of language and culture, community wellbeing, and environment and heritage.
Some of the best known projects include the cultural program run in conjunction with Deniliquin High School, the rangers program which trains indigenous community members to look after country, and the long-running language program.
To learn more about Yarkuwa and its role in the community, stop by the centre on hay Rd or go to www.yarkuwa.org.au.
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