Tarntipi Bush Camp

Teddy Portaminni is a man with an unbridled love for teaching.

For 35 years the revered elder, aged in his late 60s, delivered language and cultural learning to school students on his remote Tiwi islands, just half an hour’s light plane ride across turquoise seas from Darwin.

These days, Teddy and his wife Teresia are the proud owners of Tarntipi Bush Camp on Bathurst Island, a thriving Aboriginal-owned and run, on-country enterprise which started back in 2016.



The couple, along with their daughter, Baptista, and son-in-law, Nathan, spend the cooler, dry season months at camp providing cultural awareness and immersion experiences, catering to a wide range of clients.  

“People from the mainland coming over for camps, students from Darwin, we also have students from down south from the schools,” Teddy explains.

Corporates and government agencies account for a large slice of Tarntipi Bush Camp’s clientele, undertaking cultural education and training programs.

“They all come over and they’re wanting to learn more about what I do and what I teach here so it’s open for everyone to come and I’m encouraging people to come and learn about Tiwi culture.”

While visitors to the islands make up much of Tarntipi Bush Camp’s clientele, the business also plays an important role in preserving ancient culture and language for younger generations of Tiwi people.

“Today we’ve got students from Tiwi College here because our kids are the future and we have to give them the opportunity to learn about Tiwi culture, learn about themselves,” Teddy said.

“We need to help them become proud Tiwi people. I’m hoping that the things we teach the young people will make them better people, better Tiwi people.”

Teddy proudly states his business has never been stronger. Tarntipi Bush Camp recently received backing from Aboriginal Investment NT (formerly Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation) through its initial grant funding round.



The capital injection helped the business purchase a new vehicle to transport guests and make critical infrastructure upgrades at the remote camp site.

“I talked to Aboriginal Investment NT about my business here and now they’re getting behind me, helping me with my work here at Tarntipi,” Teddy said.

“It’s great support for me to have them come aboard and help me, push me forward to the future that I’m looking forward to.”