Art, Language & Culture

At Waltja, we come together three times a year, bringing our members and Directors from across the Central Desert communities, which span from WA to the Queensland border over 900,000 kilometres and include around 13,000 people. When we gather, we camp out under the stars, allowing us to relax and engage in meaningful conversations. Our dedicated staff create a supportive atmosphere, encouraging us to learn from each other while having fun. As Indigenous women, these moments of connection are invaluable, helping us strengthen our bonds and share our stories. When we return home, we do so feeling empowered and ready to put new ideas into action. All our work, programs, and activities at Waltja are centred around culture, language, and relationships. We communicate through art and prioritise speaking our own languages first, which helps us express our thoughts clearly before switching to English. Despite our diverse languages, we find common ground, with our Directors guiding the direction of our work within their communities.