Text and photos : Gayle Mather
Iga Warta offers a unique opportunity for visitors to experience Adnyamathanha, culture, living, sharing and learning in an Aboriginal community setting. Iga Warta means place of the native orange tree in Yura Ngawarla, the language of the Adnyamathanha people. Iga Warta is set amongst the magnificent mountains in the Northern Flinders Ranges in south Australia and is owned, managed and staffed totally by Aboriginal people.
The cultural tourism centre at Iga Warta is the natural environment. We interpret the land through the Adnyamathanha culture and use the mountains, plants, animals and painting sites to share our ancient but living, vibrant culture.
Visitors have the unique opportunity to become part of this community to live with Aboriginal families and immerse themselves in Adnyamathanha culture. They learn of our ancient traditions and their relevance to our lives today. We offer cultural experiences with Aboriginal men and women in a culturally appropriate way.
We offer a range of tours and activities to suit all visitors however, they all feature Adnyamathanha culture and the rules for living from the Muda (Dreaming). You can book for several days package - Iga Warta can cater to everyone’s needs.
The natural environment is vital to Adnyamathanha culture and therefore, we encourage visitors to stay in [1]. You can use it in a tent or just sleep under the stars - or around the campfire., however, for those visitors who want a more comfortable accommodation, we also have five star safari tents with ensuite bathroom, rustic style ensuite cabins and hostel style bunk cabins available. We also have permanently assembled tents so that the visitors are not cut off from the environment but are aware of their surroundings, its beauty and its harshness. In the campground there is also Camp kitchen for the use of our visitors along with a new Architectural designed Ablution Block.
Our business is our tool to making our community self sufficient and is also a very important tool in the preservation and protection of our language, culture and sites.
Location
Iga Warta is set amongst the mountains in the Northern Flinders Ranges in the north of South Australia.
Travel from Adelaide to Copley on a good sealed road then east from Copley towards Arkaroola on a good quality unsealed road. If you prefer, you can travel the sealed road to Wilpena and then the unseald section via Balcanoona.
Contact
Iga Warte
Tel. : (08) 86483737
Fax : (08) 86483794
E-mail : info@igawarta.com
Email : Enquiries@igawarta.com
Web-Site : www.igawarta.com
Biography
Gayle has grown up as part of the Adnyamathanha community since she was 10 years old and throughout her career has worked with and for Aboriginal people. She is currently working at Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association in Port Augusta South Australia. Gayle is also involved in cross cultural training with Iga Warta as the non-Aboriginal facilitator and in this role she discusses the issues facing Aboriginal people from a non-Aboriginal perspective.