Indigenous peoples from Alaska share plenty in common with the Larrakia in Darwin, a radio project has found.
The seven-episode Parallel Hearts program explores themes between local Indigenous people in sister cities Darwin and Anchorage.
Program maker Gaia Osborne said during production with cultural liaison David Kurnoth, they learnt the similarities were uncanny.
"He said it: If one person was reading these out you'd have no idea these were coming from two sides of the world," Ms Osborne said.
Larrakia artist Kay Villaflor highlights the importance of handing down cultural knowledge.
"There's a definite need for it so we can stay connected to our families and our culture, and our land," she said.
"My great grandfather was jailed for using his language.
"There were horrible stories about not wanting to talk the language because of the trauma that was inflicted on them as children."
Home for Dena'ina First Nation people is Southcentral Alaska, between Cook Inlet Region and Chugach and Talkeetna Mountains.
They traditionally lived off the land, fishing, hunting and gathering wild plants until colonisation and disease reduced their population and access to country.
Renewed interest
Since former US Navy sailor and Dena'ina man Adam Leggit was young, he has seen big changes in respect for Indigenous peoples.
"There was literally no talk of the Dena'ina, outside a few artifacts at the Anchorage museum," he said.
"Now we're seeing interpretive signage, statues. I'm getting weekly calls to do greetings or welcomes."
'Learn your language'
Dena'ina elder Deborah Call has learned her language and is teaching her son.
"To the young Dena'ina I would say 'just really learn your language'," Ms Call said.
"Through the talk you pick up who you are, and you pick up the essence of our culture.
"Without the language you're mute."
'Benefits of colonisation'
Another shared concern between the Larrakia and Dena'ina communities was the loss of country.
Jeanneen McLennan is an advocate for Larrakia representation on traditional lands.
"The benefits of colonization, and having people come on to our lands, is the creation of me. I'm not just Larrakia, I'm also Gurindji, Scottish, Irish, and Chinese," Ms McLennan said.
"And a lot of those nationalities have been a significant part of the development of Darwin."
One such development is Mindil Beach Casino, which has just changed owners.
"It's always been important for us as Larrakia people that that site is acknowledged as a burial site, and that it is respected during all events," she said.
"We are working with the new management and in relation to respecting the Larrakia people, and having a plaque up there that recognizes and acknowledges the significance of the site where they are located."
Dotty Fejo, a Larrakia artist, said Mindil was once the site of a war between the Larrakia and the Tiwi islanders over the theft of women.
"Now there is a strong connection. We grew up together. My daughter is married to a Tiwi Islander, my grandchildren are from there," Ms Fejo said.
The times they are a-changin'
The impact of climate change on seasons and food sources are a worry for both peoples.
David Kurnoth coordinates the Larrakia Host program, which educates visitors and locals about the Larrakia. He feels strongly about teaching traditional ways of maintaining the land and sea.
"We used to be able to go fishing just in the harbour and catch a boatload of fish and we could feed the whole extended family," he said.
"But now you're very hard up to stay within the harbour and be able to catch fish — because of overfishing.
"Protection of the environment would be something that I would love to see, especially if we could go back to teaching the traditional ways of how we used to protect the environment before."
This is echoed across the world by Ms Call.
"When we go berry picking, that's not our land that we used to go on," she said.
"Somebody's house is there. Or there is some subdivision sign there and you can't trespass."
'Ocean is a shopping centre'
The Larrakia and the Dena'ina both share the sea as an important food source.
Larrakia traditional owner Lynette Fejo grew up between Belyuen on the far side of Darwin Harbour, and Darwin city.
"In the ocean we have sea turtle, dugong, stingray, fishes, mud crab, cockles, mangrove worm, periwinkles, and long bums," she said.
"The salt water ocean is a shopping centre."
Parallel Hearts is being broadcast on ABC Radio Darwin over the next six Sundays.
