Founding Members
Founding members
Founders of Tangentyere Council
Many Aboriginal leaders and families have contributed to the founding of Tangentyere and to the subsequent gaining of tenure and housing for town camps.
This photo recognises the families that have been particularly important to this process.
Sadly, many of those who were involved in the initial establishment of Tangentyere Council and the town camps have passed away. Many of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren still live on the same town camps that their forebears established.
Tangentyere Council would like to pay respect to all of these people, and to two men in particular who were extremely important in the winning of rights and land for town camp residents.
Mr W. Rubuntja
Mr W. Rubuntja was one of the leading founders of Tangentyere Council and instrumental in gaining tenure and rights for town camp residents.
Pastor E. Rubuntja
Mr. Rubuntja was the very essence of compassion, determination, and vision. He was a popular man of our community and a great Indigenous leader, a Senior Arrernte Lawman and a Pastor of the Lutheran Church.