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Ngaarda Media's journey to connect the Pilbara

21 February 2024
Culture and Capability

In the vast Pilbara region of Western Australia, Ngaarda Media is a beacon of connectivity, culture and community. 

Covering over 500,000 square kilometres, Ngaarda Media broadcasts to diverse language groups, preserving over 30 Aboriginal cultures.  With support from the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), Ngaarda Media recently purchased a 4WD to cover this terrain.

The 4WD isn't just for transportation; it's a tool to gather stories, unite communities and ensure cultural connectivity. 

The van takes equipment and journalists into communities, providing opportunities for communities within Pilbara’s remote regions, who have no access to local recording studios or other means of news and cultural story gathering technology. 

Tangiora Hinaki, CEO of Ngaarda Media, expressed the organisations commitment to giving Indigenous communities a voice. ‘We actually hear from grassroots people that nobody knows, and our stories are unique,’ Tangiora said.

‘It's about giving First Nations people a voice, not only in the studio as announcers, but also our audience, who always call us about praiseworthy stories.’

As a leading First Nations media provider in Western Australia, Ngaarda is the collective voice of more than 30 language groups of Traditional Owners, connecting communities from as far north as Broome in the Kimberley and across Ngaatjatjarra Lands to the south. By bridging geographical gaps, Ngaarda will deliver on its promises: empowering communities and preserving a rich cultural heritage.

 

Ngaarda is committed to keeping culture strong through inspirational and meaningful storytelling that encourages First Nations people to hear and learn about each other through radio, photography and videography across all digital media.

‘Our accountability stories, where we champion the voices that ring us and say, “Look, we want justice,” or, “We were ripped off,” – those stories, we don't balk from, we're not afraid to tell them,’ Tangiora said.

‘Also our cultural sensitivity, we have elders in place who keep us safe, and we follow that, we know it's important. We're not quick to try and tell those suicide stories that happen locally, because let's face it, they're hard to tell, and people are grieving, and we don't want to upset mum.’

Ngaarda Media is supported by the NIAA through the Indigenous Broadcasting and Media Program, IAS 1.4, Culture and Capability. The purchase of the truck was supported through Local Investment Funds.