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Strategic Framework

The NRA Strategic Framework outlines key priorities for strengthening the Ngarrindjeri Nation.
At its core, the framework focuses on sovereignty, strong culture, language, a secure future, healthy Country, confident people, a creative economy, regional leadership and respecting history.

There priorities are guided by three key principles:

  • Building Our Nation

  • Securing Our Future

  • Caring for Our People, Lands, Waters and all living things- A responsibility that underpins all efforts

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This framework reflects the NRA's commitment to preserving the past while building a strong, sustainable future for the Ngarrindjeri Nation. 

Ngarrindjeri Yannarumi
First Nation decision-making framework

The Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority Board has responsibility for assessing whether something is healthy, lawful and creates wellbeing-based on the concept of Ngarrindjeri Ruwe/Ruwar. This assessment of projects, practices, partnerships, plans and other activities is conducted with the wellbeing of Ngarrindjeri Ruwe/Ruwar (body, spirit, lands and waters and all living things) as its objective. This Ngarrindjeri approach to decision-making is called Yannarumi.  Leaders have always worked this way, following the laws of the Creations Ancestors, Ngarrindjeri values and principles, and guided by Elders. 

Kungun Ngarrindjeri Yunnan
(Listen to what Ngarrindjeri people have to say)

KNY Agreements have fostered respect and enabled the development of close working relationships with both government and corporate Australia. 
These agreements utilise contract law to establish a structure for Ngarrindjeri engagement including a negotiation and consultation framework that creates a more equitable relationship between the parties to the agreement. 

Features include:

  • Recognition of Ngarrindjeri rights and interests

  • Clarity on the definition of and importance of cultural knowledge

  • Leader to Leader meetings

  • Joint Ngarrindjeri/Government Taskforce/working groups

Ngarrindjeri Yannarumi
Speaking as Country Deed

For Ngarrindjeri, health and wellbeing is inextricably linked to the health of the lands and waters. To reflect this, the Ngarrindjeri Nation entered a formal agreement with the South Australian Government which acknowledges that the Ngarrindjeri speak as country, as they have always done. The deed seeks to promote the importance of an open Murray Mouth, and for the parties to work together to align end of system flow objectives with the maintenance of the cultural health of the registered ‘Meeting of the Waters’ heritage site, an area encompassing the Murray Mouth.

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Yarluwar Ruwe Program

The NRA Yarluwar Ruwe Program guides the direction of the NRA and our work. 
The program covers the project management function of the NRA and ensures the integration of both the cultural and environmental aspects of our work. 
Collaboration with the NRA Heritage Team and the Ngarrindjeri Heritage Committee, ensures that Ngarrindjeri interests and values are upheld through each and every program and project. 

Projects & Activities include:

  • Speaking As Country- Murray Mouth Speaking as Country Deed

  • South East Flows Restoration Project- Yannarumi Contract

  • South East Flows Restoration Project- Heritage Assessment Contract

  • Indigenous Advancement Strategy 

  • Aboriginal Learning on Country

  • The Living Murray

  • Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth Program- Revegetation 

Ngarrindjeri Knowledge and Rights

Among the goals for the NRA that support our Vision for Country are:

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  • For all our people to benefit from our equity in our lands and water

  • For our people to continue to occupy and benefit from our lands and waters

  • To see all people respecting our laws and living in harmony with our lands and waters

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These goals extend to our strong belief that Ngarrindjeri knowledge is valuable and merits appropriate acknowledgement and, in some cases, renumeration. 


Please contact us for advice regarding any use of Ngarrindjeri knowledge including their distribution, collection, storage and reproduction. 

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