Indigemoji seeks $10k on Kickstarter to keep app alive

An ‘all or nothing’ fundraising bid has been launched by the founders of a Northern Territory phone application to try and save the app. But there’s a catch.

Graham Wilfred Jnr was the lead artist and digital mentor during the creation of the 'Indigemoji' app, which was developed in Central Australia. Photo: EMMA MURRAY

The makers of a series of Arrernte emojis have gone online in a bid to try and raise money to keep their app – and language – alive.

The Indigemoji Kickstarter was launched on April 10 with a goal of $10,000 to help update the app to better function on newer phone hardware.

App developer and Lutritja man Matthew Heffernan said the reason behind the Kickstarter was simple: the app was getting old.

“As phone hardware and operating systems keep updating, apps have to keep up with these requirements,” he said.

“There’s all this background work needed to keep an app up to date. We’ve been keeping it going behind the scenes the best we can, but we need to do a full update so it’s working again on all phones.”

So far, 74 backers have raised $5,731, but the Kickstarter has a caveat – it’s all or nothing, so the project will only be funded if it reaches the $10k goal by 12.36pm May 10.

The app was launched in 2019, but Mr Heffernan said the Kickstarter would also be used to update the app too.

“If we raise enough, we’ll also add in some new features too, like some animated GIFs for the hand signs which would be deadly,” he said.

The Indigemojis, which were made in collaboration with Arrernte Elders and school kids throughout a series of workshops in 2018.

Creative Australia’s Matchlab has also stepped in to help, pledging to match every donation to the Indigemoji Kickstarter, according to Mr Heffernan.

“This app is hugely important. I grew up in Central Australia and have family in Papunya and Arrernte family too so I understand how important it is for young people to have something to connect with,” he said.

“A lot of the driver for the app itself was from Elders, and they’re really proud of what it been able to achieve, I don’t want to say to preserve, because it’s a vibrant modern language, it’s just a new way for people to engage and share their culture – and it’s just fun too.”

Indigemoji ‘emoji boss’ Joel Liddle – who worked on translation for the app – said it was important to read and write in language so that it stayed relevant.

“We should be writing text messages and writing essays for school in Arrernte and we should be utilising Arrernte emojis, because if we utilise them in the digital realm then it means that they’re used daily still,” he said.

Donations can be made through Kickstarter by searching ‘Save the Indigemoji app!’ within the website.