Maya Keniny Noongar Language Hub
Lab 385 partnered with Edith Cowan University to create Maya Keniny, a future-ready digital hub uniting Noongar language resources, cultural media, and interactive tools—preserving heritage while expanding global access through strategic SEO and sustainable hosting.
Preserving Culture Through
Accessible Digital Infrastructure
Maya Keniny, meaning "sound dancing" in Noongar, was envisioned as more than a website. It was a cultural responsibility. The team at Edith Cowan University held a rich archive of Noongar language content: children's songs from elders, educational webisodes, theatre performances, and historical materials.
But this knowledge lived in fragments, scattered across platforms, difficult to find, and impossible to measure. The Wirlomin platform, once a step forward, could no longer support the scope or intent of the project. Interactive tools were disabled. Search functionality was limited. There was no way to trace impact or ensure long-term digital preservation.
With content this significant, the risk wasn't just poor user experience. It was missed opportunity for cultural reconnection. Lab 385 identified the chance to build a platform that could evolve with the project's needs and support the revitalisation of language through sustainable, accessible infrastructure.
Search Visibility
Unlocking discovery through culturally informed SEO.
Content Structure
Organising media into meaningful learning journeys.
Platform Longevity
Creating a foundation to outlast institutional shifts.
Cultural Infrastructure with Future-Ready Foundations
From the outset, we worked alongside ECU to co-develop a platform that could handle complex needs with care. Every step balanced technical robustness with cultural respect, ensuring the integrity of the content and the sustainability of its delivery.
Discovery & Consultation
- Reviewed Wirlomin system capabilities
- Mapped content across songs, theatre, education
- Integrated elder and educator feedback
- Identified cultural amplification opportunities
Platform Architecture
- Built WordPress-based cultural repository
- Structured four distinct resource sections
- Implemented pronunciation audio system
- Developed scalable content framework
Content Activation
- Uploaded and categorised cultural materials
- Documented On-Country activities
- Ensured accurate attribution
- Created intuitive learning pathways
SEO for Cultural Discovery
- Targeted high-intent search terms
- Optimised for local and global audiences
- Built discovery ecosystem
- Implemented technical best practices
Continuity & Support
- Supported university transitions
- Secured multi-year hosting
- Provided team onboarding
- Established sustainable infrastructure
A Cultural Knowledge Hub with Global Reach
The new Maya Keniny platform brings Noongar language resources together into a single, living digital home: accessible, structured, and discoverable.
Searchable Word Pages
Each entry includes elder-recorded audio and language details
Four Content Hubs
Songs, theatre, webisodes, and historical resources organised
Interactive Map
Stories linked to Country for place-based understanding
Advanced SEO
Consistently ranks for high-volume search terms
Long-term Hosting
Multi-year support and infrastructure stability secured