Uncle Mickey Kumatpi Marrutya O’Brien is a respected Senior Aboriginal Man and descendant of the Kaurna (Adelaide Plains) and Narrunga (Yorke Peninsula) peoples.
For many years Uncle Mickey has been sharing cultural engagement, a role handed to him by his Father, Uncle Lewis Yarlu Purka O’Brien. It’s a position he has accepted with great pride, honour and deep respect. This position has allowed him to travel Australia-wide, living and working in several Aboriginal Communities, delivering much sought-after programs with long-term benefits. In addition, Uncle Mickey is an active and passionate advocate and spokesperson for Aboriginal people, sitting on a range of Boards and advisory panels.
“I enjoy sharing cultural knowledge and providing Welcome to Country with people, not at people,” expresses Uncle Mickey.
When he’s not sharing his valuable cultural knowledge, he’s receiving recognition for his contributions, having been an Australia Day Service Award recipient, for his work as a volunteer on advisory groups, and a recipient of the Rotary Club Courtesy Award, for Community involvement working with youth.
For the past 22 years, Uncle Mickey has been a foster-parent to four children and two grandchildren and is currently working as a Facilitator of Cultural Learning.
My Father has told me, “Aboriginal people have always welcomed people to this Country, we just never told them to go home.”
