About us.
Milangkani (meaning ‘to grow’) weaves together the Pakana Ancestral philosophies of deep listening, yarning and knowledge exchange. Established by aunty and niece duo Theresa Sainty and Zoe Rimmer, Milangkani Projects offers a diverse range of consultancy services across Aboriginal culture, heritage, arts and education.
We are curators, creators and cultural advisors, and we work across Aboriginal heritage, arts and education. We collaborate to explore ideas of co-design and we facilitate immersive engagement to reveal cultural narratives and connection to the deep history of Aboriginal culture. We are inspired to empower First Peoples to tell our own stories, to celebrate who we are, and ultimately promote the protection of Aboriginal heritage, culture and knowledges.
We are inspired to empower First Peoples to tell our own stories, to celebrate who we are, and ultimately promote the protection of Aboriginal heritage and culture.
Theresa Sainty
Theresa is a researcher, writer and poet. She is a highly skilled and experienced consultant with a background in Government (state and Australian), Aboriginal Community Organisation (Aboriginal Linguistic Consultant), program evaluation, curriculum development, Aboriginal Cultural Awareness development and delivery and public speaking. She is a Senior Indigenous Scholar with UTAS, undertaking a PhD which is a continuation of her decades long research (which began in 1997) as Aboriginal Linguistic Consultant with the palawa kani Language Program.
Theresa has also worked independently as a cultural advisor on several projects with Roar Film, the National Maritime Museum of Australia, Causeway Films (The Nightingale) and the ABC, including developing complementary project-based curriculum resources. Most recently Theresa has undertaken multifaceted projects with various local Councils and various collaborations with artists and writers.
Dr Zoe Rimmer
Zoe is a cultural historian, curator and creative. She has worked in the museum and cultural heritage management sector for the past 20 years and is currently an Indigenous Academic Fellow at the University of Tasmania (UTAS) where her research and teaching is focused on Aboriginal history and heritage. Her recently completed doctorate follows on from her work in the museum sector associated with repatriation, cultural revival, First Nations museology and cultural heritage management.
Zoe is passionate about increasing First Peoples’ voice and perspectives across cultural institutions and public spaces; as well as facilitating the revitalisation of cultural knowledge and practices through collections and archives. Her interest in public history and the importance of truth telling also motivates her work. Career highlights include being awarded a Churchill Fellowship to explore different directions, methodologies and outcomes in museum engagement with First Peoples. She has curated award winning exhibitions, including associated publications, public programs and multimedia. Over the past few years Zoe has also worked as a consultant in cultural heritage management, interpretation, and the arts.