Ivy Hector Nambijina-Nangari grew up and worked on several stations on the outskirts of Katherine, and was a key claimant and witness for the Bilinarra land claim which led to part of Bilinarra country being handed back to traditional owners in 2002. A highly-respected and much loved Elder of the Bilinarra people, Aunty Ivy was one of the last speakers of her language from the Victoria River District in Northern Territory.
Throughout her life, Aunty Ivy dedicated herself to keeping her language and culture strong in her tiny remote community of Nijiburru (also known as Pigeon Hole - 450 kilometres south-west of Katherine). In 1990 Aunty Ivy, along with other Bilinarra people worked on the first grammar book and dictionary of the Bilinarra language. An author, storyteller and language conservationist, Aunty Ivy Hector Nambijina-Nangari's works live on through her legacy and her dedication to preserving cultural knowledge and maintaining vital links between traditional Aboriginal society and mainstream.
