University of Western Australia

Bradshaw rock paintings in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Via Wikimedia Commons

In 2015 Wikimedia Australia joined with Indigenous studies faculties at UWA and Curtin universities to support the first Indigenous community-lead project, working on wiki content in Noongar, the language of the south-west of Western Australia. Noongarpedia, as this project was called, also resulted in the start of incubators for both the Noongar Wikitionary and Noongar Wikipedia.

The Noongarpedia project represents several areas of importance for Wikimedia Australia, and the Wikimedia movement. As an Indigenous language project promoting knowledge equity it involves partnerships with both the Noongar and the academic communities and is a tangible model for future Indigenous language partnerships in other states of Australia, and globally. The fact that this prestigious national research project is using the Wikimedia infrastructure also provides a powerful example of knowledge as service.

Ingrid Cumming was one the key researchers on the project and is now the Indigenous project co-ordinator for the City of Canning, Western Australia. She has given several presentations on Noongarpedia project about the challenges faced with the inclusion of Australian Indigenous knowledge at Wikimania.

Ingrid was recognised in the 2020 Western Australian Heritage Awards for her role in setting up and maintaining Noongarpedia, Australia's first Indigenous language Wikipedia. The commendation for an individual who has made a significant contribution to heritage and has demonstrated best practice standards acknowledged that:

Noongarpedia has enabled young people to embrace knowledge as a means of breaking down barriers, enabling ancient Noongar knowledge to become a heritage tool locally and globally.

Media

• 2 Sep 2016 Introducing 'Noongarpedia' – Australia's first Indigenous Wikipedia Guardian article by Monica Tan
• 7 Sep 2016 Noongarpedia Interview with Professor Len Collard RTRFM
• 11 Sep 2016 Sonnets and NoongarPedia: language revitalisation takes centre stage NITV article by Karina Marlow
• 20 Sep 2016 Noongarpedia: Australia's first indigenous Wikipedia The West Australian article by Ben Anderson
• 11 Nov 2016 NoongarPedia created as first Wikipedia site in Aboriginal language ABC Radio National segment by Meghan Woods
• 18 Feb 2015 Noongar-pedia National Indigenous Radio Service segment by Gerry Georgatos