Highlights
- Ateullah Khan came to Australia in the 1970s from Pakistan.
- He eventually settled in a remote part of South Australia with his Indigenous Australian wife.
- Mr Khan says he’s honoured to be an active member of the Mimili community.
When Atteulla Khan arrived in Sydney from Pakistan in November 1979, he knew little of Australia’s Indigenous peoples and their rich history.
Months later, he stumbled upon a front-page article in a daily newspaper that highlighted the existence of nomadic communities in remote areas near Alice Springs.
Confronted with feelings of isolation from his journey halfway across the world, Mr Khan decided to distance himself from Sydney and hitchhike across the continent.
Mr Khan with the community youth of Mimili on a bike trip in 2017. Credit: Supplied
"I had the opportunity to meet different people, explore and learn about the lifestyles of the traditional owners of the country," Mr Khan told SBS Urdu.
Mr Khan with colleagues of the Regional Anangu Services Aboriginal Corporation in Alice Springs, where he is a community work officer. Credit: Supplied
'Life-changing moment'
In 1984, he visited Coober Pedy, a remote, opal-mining town in South Australia, driven by his curiosity to see the people living underground to escape the region's intense heat.
There, Mr Khan crossed paths with Fatima, his future wife, and her friends. Their connection was immediate, and they formed a close friendship, he said.
I was mesmerised by the welcoming culture in such a remote regional area, as well as the generosity of Fatima.Atteullah Khan
Mr Khan said he felt compelled to return to Coober Pedy the following year to reunite with his newfound friends.
His bond with Fatima grew deeper, and, in 1992, they solidified their commitment to each other in a cultural union ceremony held in a remote Northern Territory community.
During this traditional ceremony, Mr Khan was bestowed with a special role and honour as the son-in-law of his wife's father, consolidating his place within the family structure.
The event brought together not only her father's and mother's families but also involved the participation of over a dozen groups, symbolising the unity and inter-connectedness of their ancestral heritage.
Mr Khan's family (L-R): son Arshaan, wife Fatima and daughters Lisa, Najma and Nadia. Credit: Supplied
'Giving back to the community'
Today, Mr Khan is a community work officer in Mimili, a community - population 277 - on Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands (APY Lands) in the northwest of South Australia.
The couple's four adult children are also active community members. Their son, Arshaan, works with media and community police and is an active member of youth programs. Of their daughters, Lisa is an accomplished painter, Najma is a foster parent and Nadia is settled in Adelaide and pursuing a bachelor's degree in English and politics.
Fatima's aunty, Eileen Crombie, acknowledged Mr Khan's dedication and hard work. She said that Jane (Fatima's birth name) was born in Port Augusta but grew up in Mimili.
Jane is married to Khan and now their kids have grown up and all of them are part of our family now.Aunty Eileen Crombie
According to Aunty Eileen, senior elders of the Crombie family have accepted Mr Khan as a grandson.
Mr Khan also looks back with pride to 1999 when the Elders of the Umoona Council moved a motion to accept him as a Cultural Traditional member of the Antakirinja peoples within the Umoona community.
Mr Khan with his friend, Stanly, in Mimili. Credit: Supplied
In this society, men and women embrace and welcome those who have faced tragedies and hardships.Atteulla Khan
He said nothing prepared him for the profound humanity he encountered in this new place, where the welfare of others was all important.
Mr Khan celebrates Eid with his nephews in Pakistan in 2019. Credit: Supplied
This not-for-profit Aboriginal corporation, owned and governed by the Anangu people, has over 30 years of experience in delivering remote services in APY Lands.
Mr Jackman said Mr Khan was a very active and supportive member of the Mimili community, contributing in his work capacity and by supervising local Anangu workers.
Khan is supporting many community initiatives and community members in his own time including during emergencies and cultural business.Mark Jackman, General Manager RASAC
Mr Khan emphasised that what struck him the most was the care and acceptance of the marginalised.
"Marginalised and downtrodden individuals are not just accepted but are treated with special care and consideration by this community," he said.
Here, even those who had endured tragically difficult circumstances find solace, laughter and reasons to celebrate, creating a sense of resilience and hope in the face of adversity.Atteullah Khan
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