Our Story
Karl Winda Telfer
As a first language holder, Cultural Creative, Designer, Artist, and Educator, I carry a unique depth of wisdom and knowledge of land, sea, and sky Country. My lifelong journey of Aboriginal cultural and spiritual renewal is rooted in my ancestors’ strong cultural and political activism, which began during free settlement of South Australia in 1836.
My cultural authority is for my Traditional Countries, Mullawirra Meyunna – Dry Forest Country (Kaurna Meyunna – Adelaide) and Dilpa Gurrunda—Wari People (southern Yorke Peninsula).
From my mother, I was passed the role of cultural bearer of the Spirit Fire—the peace lore fire of Tjirbruki/Tjilbruke and the Dreaming Track. This Spirit Fire, which my mother Nganki Burka Mekauwe-Senior Woman of Water, initiated the Cultural and Spiritual renewal in the 1970s, now rests in my hands. With her passing, I hold the significant cultural obligations and responsibilities for protecting these sacred places along the Tjirbruki Dreaming Track.
I bring people together through ‘bi-cultural ways of understanding’, the spirit of humanity, and cultural education to connect community with the nature of our cultural landscape. I am the cultural founder of YELLAKA – Old Wisdom-New Ways, Co-founder of CRED – Cultural Research Education and Design, a Cultural Training Provider and Reconciliation Action Plan Cultural consultant.
Over the past thirty years, I have made significant contributions to major landscape and architectural design projects. These include the award-winning Victoria Square-Tarndayangga Master Plan, the new Adelaide Aquatic Centre, Lot-14 Public Realm – Kuri Kurru and Glenthorne National Park Nature Playspace. I was the inaugural Aboriginal Associate Director of the Adelaide Festival of Arts and co-created Kaurna Palti Meyunna, a global ceremony for Peace. Additionally, I was the Cultural Creative Director for Yabarra – Gathering of Light and Yabarra – Dreaming in Light, which won multiple National Awards. My cultural creative design is permanently installed at MOD with Kurri Kuru (Turning Circle), using story-telling, digital art and touch-screens to journey through the Kaurna Meyunna seasons.
Our Story
I work with my partner, Claire Lock, on caring for Country and bicultural programs at Kanyanyapilla and beyond. For the past two years, we have begun regenerating the cultural landscape, created the Tikkandi program, and hosted cultural education experiences on southern Country (Kaurna Meyunna Yerta).
CLAIRE LOCK
Claire cares deeply about nature, dedicating over twenty-five years to conservation and advocacy for our local environments. She has deep knowledge of plants, coastal habitats, and natural resource management practices. Her work has been recognised with SA Urban Landcare and United Nations World Environment Day awards.
Claire has written coastal vegetation management plans, Coastal Garden, and Adelaide Gardens Planting Guides. She is committed to connecting children and young people with nature, including coordinating and designing environmental educational events and programs for government and not-for-profit organisations.
She is the Founder of Nature Street Creative, supporting nature connection and conservation action through environmental strategy and engagement projects.
