Lorna Fejo

Lorna "Nanna Nungala" Fejo (14 June 1930 – 25 February 2022) was a Warumungu woman who worked in Indigenous health in the Northern Territory of Australia, including the development of a program called "Strong women, Strong Babies and Strong Culture". As a member of the Stolen Generations, having been removed from her family as a young child, she was named by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, in his historic Apology to the Stolen Generations on 13 February 2008.

Early life and education Lorna "Nanna Nungala" Fejo was born on 14 June 1930 to an Aboriginal mother and white father.

At four years of age, Lorna Fejo was forcibly removed from her family and community at Tennant Creek along with her sister, brother, and older cousin, by an Aboriginal stockman and two white men. She never again saw her mother, who died before Fejo was able to leave institutional care. Fejo was initially sent to The Bungalow (in Alice Springs), and was later sent to Methodist missions on Goulburn Island and then Croker Island along with her sister.

In 2000 Fejo was awarded the Centenary Medal, for services to the Aboriginal community.

Also in 2000, she was awarded the Australian Achiever Award for her contribution to the "Strong Women" program.

Personal life She married Larrakia man James (Jimmy) Fejo on at the Methodist Church on 29 April 1951, and moved into a shack at Stuart Park. They had 11 children in total, of whom 7 survived:

In 1973 Fejo became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She was the last remaining elder for the Yapayapa group, and continued to return to Country in Tennant Creek for ceremonies and to teach the younger generation their cultural heritage, such as finding and using bush tucker.

The "Strong women, Strong Babies and Strong Culture" continued long after her retirement, earning the Charles Darwin Research & Innovation Award in September 2009.