'Ankata': Indigenous-led process leads to exploration project's renaming

Phoebe Blogg Published October 1, 2026 at 11.30am (AWST)

business

BHP's Oak Dam exploration project has been renamed to Ankata following a community-led process run by the Kokatha people. (Image: supplied)

Mining giant BHP and Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation (KAC) have announced the Oak Dam exploration project in South Australia will be renamed Ankata.

The name Ankata was chosen via a community-led process run by the Kokatha people, and will be applied as follows — Ankata for the exploration project (meaning "bearded dragon"), Ankata piti for the decline (piti meaning "hole") and Ankata ngurra for the village (ngurra meaning "home"). 

BHP said adopting and celebrating the Ankata name reflects the cultural significance of the land to Kokatha people as the Native Title holders of the area.

It also builds on the momentum established with the signing of the Oak Dam Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) in mid-2025 — an important milestone in the relationship.

Ankata is located on Kokatha country, approximately 65km south-east of Olympic Dam and 500km north of Adelaide. It is one of the most significant global copper discoveries in recent years.

Since 2018, BHP has established an accommodation village and undertaken extensive drilling and core processing at the Ankata site. The next step will be further exploration underground via construction of a twin decline, which will help to better define the deposit.

BHP said Ankata has the potential to become a fourth copper mine in the Copper SA province, creating opportunities for jobs, investment, procurement, and training for Traditional Owners, Indigenous groups, regional communities, and the state as a whole.

Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation director Glen Wingfield, BHP GM Planning, Technical and Environment Jim McCluskey, Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation director Joyleen Thomas, and BHP Asset President Copper SA Anna Wiley. (Image: supplied)

"This is a special moment in the history of Copper SA and in our relationship with the Kokatha people. Ankata is located on beautiful Kokatha Country and it is fitting the site carries a name that is meaningful to Traditional Owners," BHP asset president Copper SA, Anna Wiley, said.

"We are grateful for the cultural leadership and commitment of Kokatha, whose guidance has been pivotal to the culturally informed design and exploration activities at Ankata over many years. We look forward to continuing a strong collaborative partnership with Kokatha to deliver lasting value for the region."

Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation chair, Nyani Thomas, highlighted the importance of the renaming.

"The renaming of Oak Dam as Ankata is important, as it recognises the Kokatha story of the Bearded Dragon that runs through this Country," he said.

"We hope that giving a Kokatha name marks the beginning of a new era in the relationship between Kokatha and BHP. It's important to Kokatha people that Ankata is more than just a name on a sign; we want to see the recognition of our culture and connection to Country reflected in the way we work with BHP in the future."

*The name Ankata was chosen via a community-led process run by the Kokatha people. (Image: supplied)*

BHP's Copper SA asset is a world-class copper province in the far north of South Australia. Copper SA has three underground mines at Olympic Dam, Prominent Hill and Carrapateena, that feed a centralised smelter and refinery at Olympic Dam, and an exploration project at Oak Dam. 

BHP said the world needs more copper, with global demand projected to grow 70 per cent by 2050 driven by traditional uses, the energy transition and digitalisation. They said demand presents a generational opportunity for South Australia, which is home to around two thirds of Australia's copper resources.

Olympic Dam, Carrapateena, and the Oak Dam project are located on the native title lands of the Kokatha people, and Prominent Hill is located on the native title lands of the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara people.