1. JENNIFER CREEK
CULTURAL HERITAGE
OFFICER
“STANDING STRONG FOR
COUNTRY, CULTURE AND
LANGUAGE”.
Jennifer Creek language name ThypanMunu meaning
(belonging to the Brown Snake Story), a descendent of
Taakata from father’s father side also descendent of
Thypanmunu from father’s mother Southern Kaantju clan
of Far North Queensland born in Coen Cape York and
second daughter to the late Thomas and Joan Creek (nee
Port). Jennifer works as a Cultural Heritage Officer for
Kalan Enterprises Aboriginal Corporation. She started
working as a Senior ranger in 2009 working with 9 other
rangers working on country. Today she is busy working
with her family members on country and work closely
with 6 other clan groups to manage the ‘ALLKUMO
Malpa Paman (Ayapathu,LamaLama, Kaantju,
Umpila,Munkaanu, Olkolo Dance Group), for over 20
years consisting of up to 45 – 50 dance member ranging
from 2 – 70 year olds, where Jenny is the
Coordinator/Choreographer of the Dance Team from
Coen representing 6 clans (Ayapathu, Lama Lama,
Kaantju, Umpila, Muunkanu and Olkolo) from Coen and
surrounding regions.
With her strong voice and presence in her home town,
Coen, she is passionate in working with the community
members about ‘Cultural Awareness’ understanding,
respecting and acknowledging cultural heritage and
protocols based on culture and country.
Her passion is to maintain her family and clan’s cultural
integrity and to pass on her valuable knowledge and
wisdom onto the next generation for keeping culture
alive in dance and stories to one day take on her role in
becoming the next clan leader. She respect and
acknowledge her past ancestors who have paved the way
for her to step into her role as an important role model
and cultural leader, her vision within 10 years to have all
her clan group speaking fluent Kaantju language.
Jennifer has developed a Kaantju dictionary who started
working on it with her mother and father in 1995.