Anniversary of the Narungga Buthera Agreement

16 February

On 16 February 2018, representatives of the Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation and the South Australian Government signed the Buthera Agreement at Parliament House in Adelaide. This anniversary recognises Narungga leadership and agreement-making concerning Guuranda, the Yorke Peninsula, and the relationship between Narungga people and the State.

Why the calendar uses 16 February

South Australian Native Title Services’ report published on 17 February 2018 identifies the signing ceremony as Friday 16 February. Its 2017–18 annual report also records that date. These accounts are particularly useful because the organisation provided legal and logistical support during the negotiations. The publication date of the news report is not the date used for the anniversary.

An agreement arising from Treaty discussions

The Buthera Agreement arose from South Australia’s Treaty discussions. It included support for Narungga governance, economic and community development, and a commitment towards further negotiations. The South Australian Government describes its priority areas as economic development and social services, with initiatives involving education, health, housing, youth justice and cultural studies.

The agreement should be named precisely. It is not a completed statewide South Australian Treaty, and it should not be presented as identical to Victoria’s later Statewide Treaty. Its significance comes from the particular parties, Country, commitments and ambitions involved.

Country, governance and practical outcomes

The Government’s account identifies initiatives connected with fishing, co-management, language and curriculum development. The Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation’s own website provides a current starting point for learning about the Nation’s priorities and its continuing work in governance, cultural heritage and caring for land and sea.

Agreement-making is more than a signing ceremony. Learning about Buthera can include asking how communities set priorities, what resources support their institutions, and how government responsibilities are followed through. Read the agreement alongside the parties’ accounts, rather than assuming a short summary captures every commitment.

Ways to mark the anniversary

A school or workplace could learn whose Country the agreement concerns, identify the parties, and compare the original text with a later account of implementation. Keep Narungga perspectives central, and avoid treating one agreement as a model that all Aboriginal nations must follow.

This is a historical anniversary, not a claim that an official annual celebration has been declared. Any invitation to partner with, visit or seek a presentation from a community organisation should follow that organisation’s current arrangements.

Sources and further reading

The links below provide historical research, First Nations perspectives and official records. Historical sources may contain distressing material, outdated language, and names or images of people who have died.

Online sources

SA Government Signs Buthera Agreement With Narungga Nation. South Australian Native Title Services, 17 February 2018. Contemporary reporting identifying the signing ceremony as 16 February.
https://www.nativetitlesa.org/sa-government-signs-buthera-agreement-with-narungga-nation/

SANTS Annual Report 2017–2018. South Australian Native Title Services. Corroborates the signing date and the organisation’s role.
https://www.nativetitlesa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/SANTS_Annual_Report_2017_2018.pdf

Buthera Agreement. South Australian Attorney-General’s Department. Government explanation of commitments and implementation.
https://www.agd.sa.gov.au/aboriginal-affairs-and-reconciliation/aboriginal-land-and-business/buthera-agreement

Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation. NNAC. The Nation’s own account of its work and priorities.
https://www.nnac.org.au/

The Buthera Agreement. NNAC and the State of South Australia. Agreement hosted by the Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation.
https://www.nnac.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Buthera-Agreement.pdf

Our related products and resources

We do not currently offer products or learning resources specifically for this date. The reading links above are provided for background and further learning. Suitable items from our range will be added here as they become available.