Treasure Boxes and Adelaide Crows Wakarlas Journey

Last week Treasure Boxes joined with the Adelaide Football Club and Adelaide Crows Foundation on their Wakarlas Journey to build upon and strengthen our relationship with the First Nations community in Port Augusta.

Wakarla means ‘crow’ in Adnyamathanha – one of the main language groups in over 40 languages that represent the First Nations community of Port Augusta.

It was an important learning opportunity for Treasure Boxes as we work collaboratively with First Nations communities to ensure that every baby, child and teen in South Australia has equal access to the essentials.

Our journey started with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony with Uncle Vince from the Adnyamathanha community , who shared Adnyamathanha stories, culture and food with us.

“It was a humbling experience to hear the stories of the land from an Adnyamathanha elder, and one that has left a lasting impression me that I will carry into our future learnings.” said Rikki Cooke, Treasure Boxes Founder & CEO.

We then travelled to Lakeview Transitional Accommodation Centre where staff discussed the most pressing issues for families in regional SA, followed by discussion with other local organisations on how we can best work together on solutions to ensure that every baby and child in SA – regardless of distance – can be cared for by their community.

Treasure Boxes arranged for a very special delivery to take place. Adelaide Crows players hand delivered a special Treasure Boxes package to an Indigenous family in Port Augusta. A young expecting mum, grieving the loss of a close family member and working hard to set up a house of her own, now has the essentials she needs to safely raise baby: a safe cot and change table, pram, baby clothes and toys.

And … our trip ended with a colour run! Organised by Aboriginal Family Support Services, it was a lot of fun – for the kids and the grown-ups! Treasure Boxes passed out 50 pairs of boots, through our Boots for Boxes program, to the local community. As well as heaps of Crows merch!

We are grateful for this opportunity, made possible by our Regional Program sponsors: Adelaide Football Club, Adelaide Crows Foundation and BHP.

Rikki Cooke
Founder & CEO
Treasure Boxes Inc.

Treasure Boxes acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.

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