Senior Martu leader Muuki Taylor has been recognised for his work transforming lives in Indigenous communities in Western Australia's remote Western Desert.
Mr Taylor founded Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa, known everywhere as KJ, 15 years ago with Sue Davenport and Peter Johnson, who were also honoured.
Each was awarded a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours List.
The Martu are the traditional owners of a large part of central Western Australia, from the Great Sandy Desert to Wiluna. The Martu people share a common law, culture, and language across this area.
A strong identity
Mr Taylor, KJ's senior cultural advisor, has previously said KJ was important to ensure the Martu people's spirt remained happy and strong, and to pass on knowledge to younger generations.
"We need to teach them and show them before we leave them behind after we pass away," he said.
KJ runs a series of programs including ranger teams to protect Martu country and other programs to preserve cultural knowledge, which is key to the Martu people maintaining their strong identity and connection to country.
It also runs a leadership program to build confidence and create change by educating Martu on corporations law, government structures and processes, native title and employment law, and visiting and making presentations to a wide range of government and other organisations.
Work requires effort and courage: Chaney
KJ co-patron Fred Chaney said Mr Taylor's work had required a lot of effort and courage.
"The Order of Australia is about acknowledging the work that so many Australians do to make Australia a better place and Muuki is a distinguished contributor to making Australia a better place," he said.
"He is a traditional leader. And the fantastic thing he has done is to take that leadership role and to translate it and to use it for taking generations below him into the modern world.
"His support of the Martu Leadership Program is a really significant contribution to ensuring that, in future, Martu people will be able to deal with Australia on equal terms."
He believed Mr Taylor, who is also a well-known artist, would be quietly pleased with the award.
"Muuki is not a showy person, he's not a person who aggrandises himself," Mr Chaney said.
"But I think the fact that this award was made — and I know it was made with the support of so many of the people he's worked with — that he will be gratified that they have recognised the value of what he has done with them."
