Emu Dreaming tram returns for National Reconciliation Week

Friday, 29 May 2020

An Adelaide Metro tram featuring contemporary Aboriginal art is operating this week to mark and support National Reconciliation Week, 27 May – 3 June, and NAIDOC Week, which has been rescheduled to later in the year.

The Kardi Munaintya (Emu Dreaming) tram started running on Sunday, 24 May and will remain operational until Saturday, 18 July.

Initiated in 2010, the Kardi Munaintya tram wrap was designed as a living work of art by Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) employee, Kaurna/Ngarrindjeri landscape architect and visual artist Paul Herzich, and facilitated by DPTI.

This year’s tram wrap is a refreshed design that recognises and celebrates the diversity of Aboriginal cultures in South Australia by acknowledging the main Aboriginal Nations that are located either fully or partly within the state of South Australia.

In the design, each tram stop is illustrated as a circular meeting place symbol, and Kardi (emu) are shown moving across the Kaurna/Adelaide landscape.

The kardi is a significant totem of the Kaurna people. The colour of each kardi represents the main ochre colours that are used by Kaurna people.

“The Kardi Munaintya Tram is an important artwork because it acknowledges and raises awareness of all the main Aboriginal groups of South Australia,” Mr Herzich said.

“I love seeing social media photos of people standing there pointing to their nation name. The nation names offer a sense of belonging, a sense of identity and a sense of safety for Aboriginal people.

“The social impact this living work of art has had on our entire community has led to DPTI continuing to fund the installation each year in the spirit of reconciliation.”

National Reconciliation Week recognises both the 1967 referendum and the historic Mabo decision. It is a time to learn about and celebrate the histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

This year’s theme for National Reconciliation Week is “In This Together”.

For further information about National Reconciliation Week, visit https://www.reconciliation.org.au/national-reconciliation-week/