Kantri Laif Issue 1 - NAILSMA

INTRODUCING NAILSMA

P2... Peter YuLinks up with NAILSMAP5... Kimberley Regional FireManagement Project

KIMBERLEY P16...The Gulf plans for the future P17...Borroloola tracks turtles

GULF OF CARPENTARIA

P...11 Mobs come from all overNorth Australia to meet for thefirst NAILSMA forum

TOP END

NORTH AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS LAND AND SEA MANAGMENT ALLIANCE

KIMBERLEY....NORTHERN TERRITORY....GULF OF CARPENTARIA....CAPE YORK....TORRES STRAIT

News for Indigenous Land and Sea Managersacross North Australia

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DRYDRYDRYDRYDRY/////WETWETWETWETWET20042004200420042004

Joe

Mor

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Lis

a B

inge

SPECIAL FEATURESP3..A message from Henry Reynolds

The North Australian Indigenous Land & SeaManagement Alliance (NAILSMA) was an idea thatcame from the former leaders of North Australian LandCouncils during the 90’s.

The concept of NAILSMA was enhanced in late 2002when the Northern & Kimberley Land Council’s andBalkanu Cape York Development Corporation becamepartners in the Cooperative Research Centre for TropicalSavannas. The relationship with the CRC, allowsNAILSMA to act as an agent for change in supportingpractical natural and cultural resource managementactivities and initiatives across the wet/dry tropics of northAustralia. NAILSMA core membership currently consistsof the Kimberley and Northern Land Council’s and BalkanuCape York Development Corporation. We are hoping thatthe Carpentaria Land Council and Torres Strait RegionalAuthority will also become formal members of the alliance.This membership does not exclude other Indigenousorganizations across north Australia however andmembership is open to discussion.

The alliance is coordinated out of Darwin by JoeMorrison (see page 3 for further description of governancestructure for NAILSMA) and a steering committee madeup of representatives of core partners, plus the IndigenousLand Corporation, CRC Tropical Savannas and theDepartment of Infrastructure Planning and Environment.NAILSMA is housed at the CRC for Tropical Savannaslocated on the Charles Darwin University campus in Darwin.

NAILSMA is currently embarking upon 3 majorprojects focused on Dugong and Marine TurtleManagement, development of a strategy for IndigenousKnowledge conservation and application across northAustralia and the development of a Indigenous led Firemanagement agenda.

NAILSMA’s focus is tosupport Traditional Ownerswith on-country managementof natural and culturalresources, developingsupport structures for future managers of the Indigenousestate, development of effective communication acrossthe top, engaging TO’s into the research agendas andindeed lead them, and finally supporting TO’s to exploreeconomic opportunities.

NAILSMA Coordinator Joe Morrison has nurtured theNAILSMA concept from 2002, when Peter Cooke, DavidEpworth and Mark Horstman asked him to sit on the CRCBoard of Management and take up the Coordinatorposition. This has in simple language, enabled Indigenouspeople to have a seat at the negotiating table of a veryimportant initiative across north Australia.

For the last 18 months, Joe has been developingworking relationships with partners and community groupsacross North Australia.

Lisa Binge, NAILSMA Project Officer will becoordinating Indigenous leadership, communicationinitiatives, including Kantri Laif and developing ascholarship program aimed at supporting people oncountry get access to education.NAILSMA Fire Project Officer Wayne Davis commencedemployment with NAILSMA on the 28th July and his jobrequires him to work with Indigenous and other sectoralgroups including pastoral, tourism, mining and parks, todevelop a voice for Indigenous fire managers across NorthAustralia. Wayne has worked in land management for nearly20 years as a ranger in Kakadu Naitonal Park and has spenttime in the centre managing community-based landcareprojects with Tangentyere Landcare.

...story continued p2

2 Kantri Laif Issue 1, Dry Issue 2004

Research in communities can result in two-wayinformation exchanges, which have more practical benefitsfor both communities and researchers alike. People knowtheir country intimately and more concerted efforts shouldbe made in integrating traditional knowledge into researchand mainstream natural resource management activities.Peter sees some real opportunities in incorporatingtraditional skills and values into the CRC activities but atthe same time Indigenous people can utilise and appreciatenew and contemporary resource management skills.

“People have intellectual knowledge andunderstandings of their own environments and this putsthem in a position to dictate or negotiate their position interms of what external pressures or interests may come intotheir areas. It brings home the authority, gives recognitionand respect.” Peter said.

Peter recently stepped down from his position of 10years as the Director of the Kimberley Land Council. He isnow Chairman of the Aboriginal Housing and InfrastructureCouncil, Western Australia. Peter explained that theAboriginal Housing and Infrastructure Council worksclosely with ATSIC Regional Councils and is responsiblefor the program management of housing and otherinfrastructure development in remote communities ofWestern Australia.

Privately, he is also investigating Indigenous prospectsin aquaculture, mining and exploration areas, but mostimportantly he is working hard on developing commercialpartnerships and relationships between the private sectorand Indigenous communities. Peter is also aiming todevelop new models that will attract investment frominstitutional and private investors to community relatedprojects, as well as engaging mentoring roles to getIndigenous people involved and therefore gain experiencein commercial areas.

“Communities should start looking at commercialalternatives, rather than those that only attract publicfunds. People shouldn’t be afraid to engage directly in arobust fashion with industries, government or other thirdparties that want to use their land.”

Having so much on he’s plate, Peter remains wellbalanced and grounded, he acknowledges that thereare real opportunities in research and commercialenterprise but Indigenous people need to actively seekout these opportunities.

“We shouldn’t assume the victim position where wewait and anticipate for others to make the first move, weneed to be alert and creative, people need to understandthe rights agenda is still very much important, but it’s notthe right’s agenda alone, it’s a matter of being able tobalance that with getting immediate outcomes that improvethe lifestyle of our mothers, fathers, auntie’s, uncle’s andgrandparents.” Peter said.

Peter’s closing comments to us were that we need tobe thankful for the endeavours and efforts our familieshave given us and we should be aiming to repay themthrough investing in education and meaningful jobs. Welook forward to catching up with Peter in the near futureand finding out how his projects are going.

Interview by Lisa Binge 16/03/04

On a trip to Western Australia we caught upwith Peter Yu to see what he’s up to and to getsome words from our chair.

Peter was recently endorsed by NAILSMA partnersto represent them on the CRC Tropical Savannas board.It has become apparent from Peter’s short time in the jobthat he will be highlighting Indigenous aspirations inrelation to research undertaken by TSM-CRC and howthis fits into the broader context of capacity developmentand economic development on the Indigenous estateacross the north.

“It’s an area that I’m extremely interested in, it has thepotential to do things in new ways that will provide moresupport for Indigenous communities and improve theirinvolvement in environmental, ecological and mainstreambusiness issues.” Peter said.

Peter Links Up with NAILSMA

Stephen Johnson

Stephen Johnson, IndigenousKnowledge (IK) Project Officer, will beworking with Traditional Owners,Indigenous groups and others across theNAILSMA region to develop a strategyfor conservation and application of IK.The aim is to increase investment into IKfrom local, regional, national and international sources, forimproved engagement but also recognition that IK doescontribute to better management of country. Steve iscurrently a Phd candidate at the University of Queensland,supervised by Dr John Bradley. He has been working withthe Yanyuwa people at Borroloola for many years.

In September, NAILSMA held its first annual Forum onthe Menngen Aboriginal Land Trust (old InnesvaleStation). See inside for story.

If you would like more information contact:NAILSMA: Building 41, level 3, room 27Charles Darwin University NT 0909

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Pete

r Yu

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NAILSMA prepared for a crucial periodof development in the north by setting thescene through a workshop in Darwin.

Held on 25-26th May, NAILSMA’s existing andpossible future partners met to workshop a strategicdirection for the future. The workshop was chaired byPeter Yu and facilitated by Bevan Bessen. The meetingwas attended by representatives from the Northern LandCouncil, Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation,Kimberly Land Council, Carpentaria Land CouncilAboriginal Corporation, Indigenous Land Corporationand CRC Tropical Savannas staff.

The workshop discussed current and future projectsincluding Indigenous Knowledge conservation, MarineTurtle and Dugong management, Fire Management,Leadership support and the need to begin working on waterissues across north Australia. An important outcome wasthe development of an operational framework andgovernance arrangements to move forward.

Importantly, it is seen as a strategic and positive moveto have Peter Yu contribute to the direction of NAILSMAas all workshop participants expressed their desire tocontinue to work with him in the future.

Other outcomes of the workshop were the targeting ofpartnerships driven by NAILSMA and the endorsementof the first north Australian Indigenous land and seamanagement forum.

From the respective members, each land and sea unitmanager also gave a report on regional activities toworkshop attendees.

Their contributions made for interesting collaborativedecision making with a North Australian focus. TropicalSavannas CRC Co-Theme Leader and NAILSMAcoordinator Joe Morrison said “the workshop was verymuch needed in a time when development across the northis at a crucial period for Indigenous people to accessmeaningful engagement and to then have their aspirationsmet on their terms”.

The detailed outcomes of the workshop are availablefrom: Joe Morrison [email protected] Lisa Binge (08) 89466754or email: [email protected]

Left to right: Peter Yu, Jim Davis (BCYDC), Ariadne Gorring (KLC), MichealStorrs(NLC), Peter Cooke (NLC), Joe Morrison(NAILSMA), Lisa Binge(NAILSMA), Paul Jenkins (ILC), Kelly Gardner (CLCAC), Paul Josif (NLC).

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The formation of NAILSMA is a mostimportant development both for indigenouscommunities and for North Australia.

It is also the necessary and logical development tofollow on from the Mabo and Wik judgements. It is alsovitally necessary at this time when there is little to behoped for from the politicians and the parliaments. Theera of reform in indigenous affairs seems to be over...andmany issues have simply not been resolved...questionsabout sovereignty and autonomy and self determinationhave simply disappeared off the politician’s radar. Andyet the underlying issues have not gone away. So it isup to the indigenous people to set their own agenda...andnot wait to be asked or ‘consulted’...yet again. And theregional focus is exactly what is required. North Australiahas forever been exploited...has been an economiccolony of the south and of overseas investors. So muchwealth has come out of the north and so little was leftbehind...it has enriched people who have either neverbeen in the north; have flown over it or have made aquick dry season visit.

It is time too for indigenous communities to bothprotect the north from bad developments and to gain thebenefit from appropriate ones. We should never forgetthe enormous contribution made by indigenous men andwomen to the economy of the north. We should neverforget that thousands of workers were not paid for theirwork, that they experienced outrageously bad workingconditions…violence...sexual exploitation...malnutrition...andlittle thanks or even respect. The time has arrived forindigenous communities to take their own destiny in theirown hands...NAILSMA may provide an avenue to furtherthis ambition. Henry Reynolds 29/10/04

NAILSMAGETSREADYFOR THEFUTURE

MESSAGE FROMHENRY

REYNOLDS


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Ribbons of BlueA program to educate students and the

community about waterway values and health, aswell as Aboriginal connections with the land andwater, has been trialled in the East Kimberley.

On 5 and 6 May, Halls Creek District High SchoolYear 7, 8 and 9 students participated in the Ribbons ofBlue Pilot Project. This project was initiated by theKimberley Land Council and Ord Bonaparte Program,and supported by the Department of Environment,Natural Heritage Trust, Ribbons of Blue and theKimberley Language Resource Centre.

Classroom introductory sessions were run by MichelleMartin (Kimberley Language Centre) and Jane Rapkins(Rivercare Officer), followed by field excursions to CarolinePool and the Elvire River at Old Halls Creek.

Students conducted Visual Site Assessments andtesting of the chemical and physical parameters of the water.Aquatic macroinvertebrates (small animals withoutbackbones) were netted and identified.

The macroinvertebrates found give us a lot ofinformation on how healthy the water environment is.These bugs, beetles, snails and worms are the middle ofthe food chain so they are used as indicators for the restof the ecosystem.

Also because some of these animals are sensitive topollution, they are a good test of water quality. The amountof oxygen in the water as well as the native plants aroundand in the waterway also have a big effect on whatmacroinvertebrates can live at a site.

The main concerns identified during the samplingactivities related to litter, land use, human use andanimal life.

“This program is really important, teaching kids abouttheir own area and how to look after land and water for thefuture”, said Michelle Martin.

The East Kimberley Ribbons of Blue project has beensuccessful in obtaining funding for 2004-05 through theNatural Heritage Trust. Any schools or community groupsinterested in participating, please contact Jane Rapkins,Rivercare Officer on 08 9168 1082.

Jack Lannigan, Stan Brumby, Bonnie Deegan, Joe Blythe &Glenn Wightman recording traditional knowledge of plantand animals.

The Aboriginal Management and Planning forCountry Program began in 2001 and was a subprogramof the Ord Bonaparte Program (OBP). The OBP was anintegrated natural resource management research anddevelopment program looking at sustainabledevelopment in the East Kimberley. Partners to theprogram were Land & Water Australia, CSIRO, KimberleyLand Council (KLC), WA Department of Agriculture, WADepartment of Environment, Water and CatchmentProtection (formerly the Waters and Rivers Commission),WA Department of Conservation and Land Management,Ord Land and Water, and the Australian governmentDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

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The Program worked with three main traditionalowner groups, the Miriwoong Gajiwaroong people basedaround the Kununurra region; Kija people from Warmun(Turkey Creek) and Halls Creek and Jaru people from theHalls Creek area.

Three research projects were developed based ontraditional owners aspirations for looking after countrynow and in the future.

The Kija and Jaru Plants and Animals project was acollaboration between the KLC and the KimberleyLanguage Resource Centre (KLRC).

“Plant names and uses need tobe written down and put into a

book so that they will be there inthe future. When young Jaru

people get older they will wantto know the names and uses ofthe plants, if all the old people

are gone they will be able to getit from the book”.

(Bonnie Deegan, Jaru traditional owner)

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StoryBy: Jane Rapkins

Looking after countryalong that Ord River

5

Over 90 traditional owners worked with GlennWightman (biologist) and Joseph Blythe (linguist) on theproject conducting field trips to traditional country estatesover a one year period. Traditional owners would like tosee a range of information products come from this workincluding a book, video, CD-Rom, audiotapes, signagewith language names and stories. Posters have beendeveloped of the field trip for use in both Warmun andHalls Creek community and schools.

The data management and GIS project developed acultural mapping database with the Kija and Jaru people.Using similar databases developed by Indigenous peoplein north America. The project aims to build a communitybased GIS system in Warmun to assist in landmanagement and looking after traditional knowledge aboutcountry.

A Capacity Building and Two Way learning projectfor Kija, Miriwoong-Gajirrawoong people focused onranger training and building stronger relationshipsbetween traditional owners, researchers, governmentagencies and community groups. Ranger training wascarried out with the Kimberley College of TAFE.Miriwoong people were mostly concerned about pesticideuse in the Ord River Irrigation and regional decision makingprocesses.

An Aboriginal Steering Committee was formed withtraditional owners from the catchment and also withgovernment agencies and community groups. It is thefirst of its kind providing a forum for traditional owners to

discuss land use issues, aspirations for futuremanagement and planning and to monitor researchprojects. Most importantly it saw traditional owners cometogether as one strong voice for land use and landmanagement in the Ord River Catchment.

A Final Report has been completed with the findingsof these projects and includes recommendations for thecontinuance of this work in the East Kimberly and alsoincludes the development of an East KimberleyAboriginal Resource Management Strategy; thecontinuance of the Aboriginal Steering Committee;funding of ranger training and employment programs bythe WA state government; ongoing collaborativeresearch and development; resource allocation from bothWA and Commonwealth funding agencies.

Land & Water Australia continues to support researchin the area with the funding of a new project in 2004Integrated Natural and Cultural Resource ManagementOptions for Pastoral Land in the East Kimberley. Partnersin the research are the CRC for Tropical SavannasManagement, the KLC, the WA Department of Agricultureand the ILC.For more information contact Dr Catherine Mobbs at Land& Water Australia or Prof Gordon Duff at the CooperativeResearch Centre for Tropical Savannas Management.Visit the LWA website: www.lwa.gov.au or,CRC website: savanna.cdu.edu.au

Report by Kylie Pursche

Kurungal Walk takeskids back to country

During the July holidays 2004 the Kurungal people,Kimberley Regional Fire Management Project, Yiriman‘Youth’ Project, NAILSMA and Kimberley Aboriginal Lawand Culture (KALAC) teamed up for a walk throughcountry on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert.

The trip aimed to get youth ‘at risk’ out on countrywith old people. Over 100 people joined the walk thatstretched over 6 days covering 70kms of country, on theChristmas Creek pastoral lease. Each day was a newadventure passing through Spinifex country andstopping off to look at waterholes including anunderground waterhole, wetlands and escarpmentcountry that edged the Great Sandy Desert.

There was plenty of opportunity for hunting, with theboys coming back with kangaroo and turkey at the end ofthe day. The women shouted to stop the car when theysaw bush potato on the side of the road, the women madedigging for bush potato look easy work but the groundwas dry and tough.

Caitlan Laword from Fitzroy Crossing said her sheenjoyed walking with the old people and learning how tofind bushtucker. Caitlan thought it was important to gobush with old people, “To learn their culture and whatthey eat out in the bush, how to survive, how to catchstuff, how dig up [bush potato]” Caitlan said. (cont...next page)


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The young people enjoyed learning more aboutimportant cultural places, learning how to get bushtuckerand swimming in the rockholes.

Charnelle Pindarr, from Bayulu said “[I like] coming andlearning different culture, being in the bush and walking around.Going swimming at the rockhole, hunting, walking.”

Nathan Dolby from Kupartiya said it was important tobring kids on country “cause a lot of kids have starteddrinking alcohol and smoking, but I don’t think it’s a goodthing. Bring them out here to dry out. They learn huntingand how to make Aboriginal things.”

Senior man Ned Cox remembers walking the country whenhe was young and on his return noticed a lot of changes.Ned said “[bush tomato] been here, they’d been finished along time ago there never grow again. Lightning kill thatbushtucker too. We’ve been getting plenty goanna here andkangaroo and these kids been making me very happy whenthey been start walking, proper really good one. I’ve beenhappy to see them kids, and really good walker – more fastthan me. Long time good walker when I was a young man,but this time I’m too weak now, can’t walk (laughs).”

“Kids gotta know theircountry, gotta walk thesame way as us.”

Ned knows this country well, he grew up at ChristmasCreek when he and his family were brought in from thebush to work for stations.

“When I was a young fulla I was proper real goodwalker, I was there takin the lead when I was a youngman…I been good walking all the way. (My mother) Nottrying to carry me, no, not drive with Gudiya – keep walkina long way. At sundown we been eatin that bushtucker, itbeen make me good to walk.” Ned said.

The Bossmen (Ned Cox front left)

Johnny Nargoodah fromJimbalakudunj community said it’sgood to bring kids on country,“They hang around in town doingnothing…getting board…whilethey should be out seeing theirgrandparents country, lookin outand teachin them how to dig foryams. At the moment they’re eatin chips and takeawaywhen they could be out bush getting bushtucker. Whenthey grow up at least they’ll teach their kids and look attheir great, great, grandparents country.”

Olive Knight, coordinator of the women’s shelter,Marninwarntikura in Fitzroy Crossing said that being onthe Kurungal walk was a wonderful experience.

Olive agreed it was important to bring kids to learnabout their country. “They’ve [the kids] have gotelders who are able to teach them and bring them intoculture again…because they get disorientated withwestern culture. May it be an example for other areasto possibly try out…I think this is the beginning forus.” Olive said. Tom Lawford from Kupartiya

brought his family on the trip hopesthey can learn and when they’reolder take their own kids out bush.He would also like to see moreregular trips. “I think this shouldhappen more, not once a year,should be twice a year or every

holidays…take them out.You teach them respect, their skin name, learn that

culture side of things, not only hunting but thatculture side.”

Olive Knight

Tom Lawford

Lyle Carter, Eva Nargoodah, Kurt Sheen

Kids on the first day on the Kurungal walk

The walk finished at Two Dogs Dreaming everyonesplit up and madetheir way home.Everyone agreed agreat time was hadand have alreadystar ted planningfor another t r ipnext year.Olive Knightwanted to thank Doodie and the fire team and saidthey had made a true mark of leadership in this project.

Thanks to the Kurungal people and all the projectcollaborators for allowing NAILSMA to be a part of the walk.

Story by Lisa Binge

7

Kimberley Man lan Lawford “Doodie” is the manager of Bohemia Downs

Station “Kupartiya”, located southeast of Fitzroy Crossing inthe Kimberley region.

Traditional owners regained control of Bohemia Downs 13years ago when it was handed back. Doodie’s father initiatedthe handback when he asked the Western Australian governmentgive back his peoples land.

“My dad was thinking about getting Bohemia back he’dwritten a few letters to the government and Jerry Hand was theminister for Aboriginal Affairs, that’s when it got passed in. Itused to be 2 million acres before they only gave us 98, 000hectares.” Doodie said.

Doodie runs 1500 head of cattle on Bohemia, but knowsthe property can support twice that number due to improvedpastures since the reintroduction of Aboriginal land management.

Doodie, previously a grader operator and yard builder hasmanaged Bohemia for 13 years. “We do our own cattle sales,mustering, monitoring sites more or less looking after the land.”Doodie said.

Doodie and his partner Selena are also involved in providingpastoral training courses at Mt Pierre, Louisa and BohemiaStations with Management Service United (MSU).

Doodie says “I not only do cattle stuff, but I do selfgovernance, teaching the roles and responsibilities of anycommunity councils, to have proper meetings the Gudiya way,but we still sit down at the campfire and talk about our littleAboriginal meetings.”

If that doesn’t keep him busy, he also is a committeemember of the Kimberley Regional Fire Management Project.He praises Jeremy Russell-Smith and says he is the backboneof this project, along with project officer Will Phillipiadis andGIS officer Nat Raisbeck-Brown.

“Fire Will and Nat really opened my eyes, not only fromlooking at the country from the ground, but also looking fromthe satellite...you can track your fires and the Fire Faxes reallywork well. It gives you time to get to the fire and put firebreaks.”Doodie said.

The Kurungal Fire Team works with Doodie to manage fire onBohemia, burning early in the year to prevent dangerous late fires.

Doodie says, “Try and get early in before someone chucksa match later on in that off season like middle of the year, dryseason hot-burn. One match can destroy the whole of your life,and your dollars and herd. Not only that birds pick up littletwigs chuck them around the place they hunt for themselves aswell. When there’s a fire it brings out the turkeys cause theyusually come out for the grasshoppers, lizards and snakes.”

Doodie has worked with scientist on numerous projectsand acknowledges that Indigenous Knowledge and westernscientific knowledge can work side by side.

Doodie says “The scientist thought that the grass [fire]had a lot impact on country, little did they know a few trees outthere too. Fire travels not only on the ground but travels at thetree level. There’s a few trees out there they call Cork Treesthey got stuff like seeds so they can light, they can start a firethat was put to the scientist.”

We met Doodie while he was out on a back to countrycamp, accompanying elders and young kids, back to the landDoodie grew up on. Doodie says “The last time I’ve beenthrough here was 30 years ago, so we’re getting access to theland through the fire project.”

“It’s important to get oldpeople back on the land [it’s

also] good to get the kids outto country and having

something to do.”

A

Doodie says “We visit country and teach these kidsabout hunting, fruits...animals and… types of tree’s youcan use to make boomerangs. I was born in the bush, stockcamp at that time we knew about language skin groupswhat our boundaries are for our language groups thesekids don’t know, so that needs to be taught to them, howto respect the elders, respect your culture and I think you’llbe one hell of a leader one day.

We connect with the land,we’ve got to connect our

culture to the land and thestories and tell them [the kids]

we’ve got stories out there.More or less lookin after country, lookin after animals,

stories about our rockholes, dreamtime stories and with allthese together with scientists involved I think we can makeKimberley a better place, [to] come back and visit.”

Alan Lawford

Kimberley Regional Fire Team GIS Officer Nat Raisbeck-Brown and Project Officer Will Phillipiadis

Interview By Lisa Binge


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FireTeamOnFire

The Kimberley Regional Fire ManagementProject (KRFMP) was initiated in October 2000and overseen by a large management committeeincluding the Kimberley Land Council,Pastoralist & Graziers Association, Fire andEmergency Services Authority WA andDepartment of Conservation and LandManagement and representatives of land ownersand holders in the Kimberley, to name a few.

There are currently two Aboriginal fire teams,incorporating Kurungal people (Kupartiya,Wangkatjungka, Ngumban communities) and theNyikina/Mangala people (Jarlmadangah and Loomacommunities). The fire team promotes the use oftraditional and cultural fire practices and the teamsconsist of young Aboriginal people being trained infire management.

NAILSMA met the Kurungal fire team on theKurungal walk. The fire team’s Claude Carter fromBawoorrooga has been working with the fire team forone and half years, he said

“You see a lot of differentcountry that a lot of people

never been to, it’s prettygood going out to those

places.”Johnny Nargoodah from Jimbalakudunj community said

the fire team “Mainly does firebreaks, you need to clearafter the wet, which is good and when it’s still green itdoesn’t burn real wild…it won’t jump over the nextboundary. Plus it makes it green for animals,kangaroo…bring in more grasshoppers for the turkeys. They(countrymen) know when to light it and when to go huntingand what time for goanna hunting and what time for turkeyhunting…they don’t just go and light a fire.”“White people reckon them just lighting wildfire, theylighting fire for animal…they don’t light a big patch, Ireckon just for hunting really.” Johnny said.

The fire teams have undertaken training with Fire andEmergency Services Authority WA (FESA) and a SeniorFirst Aid training course with St John’s Ambulance (NT).

The fire team also completed contract burning onBohemia Downs, Bulka, Christmas Creek, Morningtonand Mt Pierre Stations, involving the use of bothtraditional and contemporary fire management practices.Nathan Dolby has just joined the Kurungal fire teamand said they

“Do a lot of travelling, to differentplaces that you wouldn’t see allthe time, I went up to the ranges.I might think about taking thisup as a career.”

Through the threatened species network, WWF theNyikina/Mangala people are gathering information on thethreatened Bilby and also feral animals.

The fire teams plan to undertake more training andcreate a business plan for contract burning and feral animaland weed control work for stations in the Kimberley.

For more information contact KimberleyRegional Fire Management Project: WillPhilippiadis on 08 9193 6550 or email:[email protected].

Terrance Nargoodah, Claude Carter, Johnny Nargoodah, Nathan Dolby, Alan (Doodie) Lawford, & Will Philippiadis

Nathan, Tom, Jason, Ishmal & Will on Kurungal Walk

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CaneToadClass

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Bruce Lirrwa Ganamba and Dave Rochford at Sheperdson College.Gumurru Marthakal Rangers and Parksand Wildlife recently completed an extensiveeducation campaign at Galiwin’ku, ElchoIsland to raise awareness of cane toads and theconservation significance of the islands.

All classes at Galwinku’s Sheperdson College weregiven bilingual presentations on identifying cane toads,the threat they pose to the island’s wildlife and steps tohelp prevent their accidental introduction. DaveRochford from Parks’ Community Education section saidthat rarely had he come across a more enthusiastic group.

“ I have been presenting these talks around Darwinand other mainland schools for some time, but the realityis there is little that can be done to prevent cane toadsfrom spreading throughout. The Islands, like Elcho forexample, present a real opportunity to have large areascane toad free. Our talks were made all the better becauselocal Yolngu rangers translated and presented their ownculturally relevant examples to the Students.”

During the week long exercise Marthakal and Parksrangers carried out mammal trapping and patrolssearching for cane toads. “There had been severalreports of cane toads on the island so we wanted todetermine their extent. Night-time searches of the mainroads, local swamps and the barge landing found nocane toads but many native frogs which could bemistaken as cane toads. Two reports have been verifiedhowever, one from a toad presumed washed up on thetown beach and killed by local children and anotherkilled on the road north of the community. Theseoccurrences are worrying but we were not able to seeor hear of any others. We hope the continuing effortsto raise community awareness of the issue will enable aquick response if other incursions occur,” said BillPanton, Parks and Wildlife Officer. “We believe that thebest protection from cane toads is to have highcommunity awareness and skilled local people who canrespond and communicate effectively with other Yolngu.

The visit to Galiwinku coincided with the signing ofan agreement between the Marthakal HomelandsResource Centre and Parks and Wildlife.

The agreement provides funds for the developmentof the Gumurru Marthakal Ranger Program. The programhas been several months in the planning phase withworkshops facilitated by the Northern Land Council’sCaring for Country Unit and involving TraditionalOwners and other government departments such asAQIS, and NT Fisheries. Ocsar Datjarranga, GeneralManager of Marthakal Homelands said the funds wouldbe used to Top-Up CDEP payments and provideoperational expenditure for the ranger program.

“We have been waiting a long time for somethinglike this to happen and we welcome the supportprovided by Parks and Wildlife. The rangers are verykeen and its great to see something so positivehappening. The Rangers will continue their cane toadawareness activities with Outstation and communityschools and participate in the on-going monitoring oftranslocated Quolls to nearby islands.”

The trip has also provided some new insights tothe Island’s biodiversity. With permission fromTraditional Owner, Alfred Wunbaya, the Marthakalrangers set mammal traps in Rainforest and Sand dunehabitats near the Dhudupu Outstation. During thet rapping several Water Rats and nat ive Mice(Melomys burtoni) were captured. The water ratswere unusual as they were well away from theirpreferred mangrove habitat and were inhabitingrainforest. These animals were brought back to thecommunity and shown to elders and school children.The water rats drew great attention as they are largeand noisy with a formidable set of front teeth. Norecords existed of the animal on Elcho Island and itwas not known to the Traditional Owners. Alfred saidthat he knew of many native animals on the islandbut had never seen this one. Other people knew itfrom the mainland and called it “Guthin” but had notseen it for many years. Such experiences highlightthe gains to be made through co-operative activitiesbetween Yolngu and Western Scientists.

Story By Bill Panton

NORTHERN TERRITORY NEWS○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○


In a landmark meeting in the NorthernTerritory, Indigenous land and sea managers fromnorthern Australia came together recently toformally endorse an alliance of Australia’s peakAboriginal land councils to further the interests ofTraditional Owners and their communities in themaintenance of land and sea country.

NAILSMA FORUM Peter Yu, traditional owner Billy Harney & Joe Morrison

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Northern Australia Indigenous Land and SeaManagement Alliance (NAILSMA) co-ordinator JoeMorrison said the recent meeting held at Innesvale Station,owned by the Menggen Aboriginal Land Trust, 145kmssouth-west of Katherine, represented a new alliance inthe north of the country.

“There already exists over 30 ranger groups in theNorthern Territory alone, focusing on local issues andthis meeting is to develop an alliance in the formal sense,across state boundaries.”

Morrison said core members of the alliance theNorthern Territory-based Northern Land Council (NLC),the Western Australia-based Kimberley Land Council(KLC), Queensland-based Carpentaria Land Council, theCape York-based Balkanu Aboriginal Corporation wouldgive Indigenous land and sea managers ‘on the ground’ avoice at a higher level when negotiating with State/Territory and Federal Governments, and industry groups.

NAILSMA representative on the Tropical SavannahCRC Board, Peter Yu, said it was a historic time in Australiain relation to the future use, management and access toAboriginal-controlled land.

“It’s a new era, a watershed period, where there existsan opportunity to be better organised to assert traditionalownership and cultural knowledge,” Yu said.

Yu said that a lot of intellectual knowledge, andknowledge of cultural and land management practices,were being lost through the passing of too manyAboriginal Elders.

He said that the existing knowledge systems heldby Elders and their families had to be recognised infinancial terms.

“We have to repay the old people in real terms, notjust in words and rhetoric,” Yu said.

An issue repeatedly raised throughout the two-daymeeting was the lack of adequate wages for Indigenousrangers, who mostly receive CDEP wages, or ‘top-up’payments, coupled with a lack of recognised qualifications.

Another issue discussed were recent reports of‘overharvesting’ of dugong and sea turtles by TraditionalOwners, which, delegates said, failed to acknowledge theimpacts on numbers from coastal development, irrigationrun-off, and strikes by leisure and commercial sea craft.

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Djelk Women Rangers

Tommy George

“We are coming together to form one voice for landand sea management for

Northern Australia”To clarify and quantify the issue, NAILSMA has

secured $3.8 million in funding to conduct dugong andturtle research across northern Australia.

Other issues also included fire management, intellectualproperty, weed and feral animal management, aquaculture,coastcare, eco-tourism, sustainable use of wildlife andbushfoods, transfer of traditional knowledge from Eldersto young people, fostering leadership amongst youngpeople and customary use of native resources.

NLCs ‘Caring for Country’ manager Paul Josif saidthe job of land councils was to provide ongoing supportfor ranger groups, and to initiate partnerships betweenNAILSMA and bodies such as Australian Quarantine,Australian Customs, universities, and the World WideFund for Nature.

“As an alliance NAILSMA will also look at accessingnew streams of funding to protect Indigenousknowledge, and to help Indigenous peoples get back tocountry and make a living off their country, if that istheir intention,” Josif said.

“We are also looking at issues such as increasedIndigenous control over research funding, and increasedIndigenous participation in research work.”

Josif said Aboriginal people were the biggestlandowners in northern Australia, and by that fact aloneshould have the primary role in managing coastlinesand inland areas.

Organisers said membership is still open, and wereexpecting the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) tocome on board in the future.

NAILSMA is expecting to hold its next full meeting inthe dry season next year, where it will present its boardstructure to stakeholders.

Report by Todd CondieCourtesy of the Northern Land Council

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NORTHERN TERRITORY NEWS○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

In May, 150 women travelled from all overthe Northern Territory to participate in the 4th

Annual Daluk (Women’s) Land ManagementConference held at Nimirrili on the Blyth Rivernear Ramininging in Arnhemland.

The Conference has become an important opportunityfor women to acknowledge their achievements and shareideas and approaches to environmental and resourcemanagement issues.

The Djelk women rangers hosted the Conference,which provided a good opportunity for the women toshow participants their ranger projects at Djinkarr andManingrida township. Projects included turtle breedingfor aquarium trade, processing Morinda Citrifolia as ahealth product and the revegetation of a barge landing.

Rangers from Wadeye, Minyerri, Borroloola, Bulman,Tennant Creek and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, toname a few, discussed their Ranger activities and raisedmany issues relating to caring for country work,relationships to land and culture. These included theimportance of getting old people and young people oncountry, keeping culture strong, collecting bush food foraged care programs, proposed developments in the DalyRiver region, the lack of resources for ranger groups,commercial and recreational fishing and pressures on localresources, Aboriginal owned and operated tourismenterprises and the importance of commitment andimproving skills and knowledge and the need forrecognition of ranger roles and real wages. Junior Rangerprograms are also being established to support youngpeople’s participation and raise awareness of traditionaland scientific land management tools.

Women participating in the conference

Emma Watkins, a Northern Australia QuarantineStrategy (NAQS) veterinary officer, performed post-mortemexamination of two buffaloes, which had been shot andtransported by helicopter to Djibalbal airstrip.

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Left: Group photo of conference participantsRight:Chief Minister Clare Martin and minister MarionScrymgour fly in for the day.

The troopies line up and wait for the buffalo to be delivered byhelicopter

Emma demonstrated how to look for diseases andcollect samples for testing in the laboratory. The meatwas later butchered by the women and taken back to thecamp kitchen.

Workshops werealso held on topics suchas how to use theNorthern TerritoryWeeds ManagementTool Kit and the NorthAustralian FireInformation (NAFI) site.

For information on next years conferencecontact: Robin Knox, Women’s LandManagement Coordinator, Northern LandCouncil Ph: (08) 89205198 [email protected]

Emma WatkinsNAQS Vetdemonstratesthe post-mortem

Then the women take over

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AQIS PROTECTSTHE NORTH

Ray Petherick comes from Wagait Finniss Riverand Fog Bay area, Woolungi is Rays homecommunity. Ray has been the Aboriginal LiaisonOfficer for the Australian Quarantine InspectionService (AQIS) as part of the North AustralianQuarantine Strategy (NAQS) for 3 years.

AQIS works to prevent exotic plant and animal diseases, for example Siam weeds, screw worm flies, foot and mouthdisease and others, from entering Australia through the North Australian coastline.

“We’re trying to keep these out, if these diseases and weeds come in here they could destroy our cattle industry theenvironment, tourism, Aboriginal bushtucker – so it’s very important for the whole of Australia.” Ray said.

Ray negotiates with landowners, to access Aboriginal land along the North Territory coastline, for AQIS to carry out it’ssurveillance work. When he’s not doing that he’s shooting buffalo from helicopters and helping the AQIS vets to do post-mordems and blood collection on feral animals.

AQIS works with around 16, land management and community ranger groups around the north coast of the NorthernTerritory. Including groups from Timber Creek, Wadeye, Peppimenarti, Daly River, Bulgul, Woolayin, Oenpelli, Maningrida,Raminginning, Croker Island, Goulburn Island, Galuwinku on Elcho Island, Nhulunbuy, Groote Eylandt, Numbulwar,Ngukurr, Borroloola and three communities on the Tiwi Islands.

Ray and AQIS Weeds Aboriginal Liaison Officer Neville ……. recently visited the Lianthawirriyarra Sea Rangers, inBorroloola. Ray wanted to meet with the Lianthawirriyarra rangers to discuss their logistical capabilities to undertakensurveillance work in the Gulf of Carpentaria as part of their day-to-day ranger work. The rangers attended an AQISworkshop a couple of years ago. “We trained them on how to post-mortem feral pigs ands collect blood samples and look forexotic diseases.” Ray said. “They took us around and Neville was able to collect a few weeds around Macarthur River, fromold boat landings. Then they took us down to Manangoora station where the Aboriginal station owners were concerned aboutferal pigs moving into the area. We were able to organise a big training workshop for that area and the Mabunji rangers wereinstrumental in organising that for us. Now they’re working with landowners and station owners in the Gulf region andthey’ll be able to survey that area on AIQS and NAQS behalf and we’re really very happy about that. Lianthawirriyarrarangers are really moving ahead very quickly.” Ray said.

AQIS Aboriginal Weeds Liaison Officer, Neville ......and Aboriginal Liaison Officer, Ray Petherick.

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The Threatened Species Network’s (TSN) role is tooffer advice and funding to groups that would like to doland management work that will help threatened species.Threatened species are those plants and animals that aredisappearing across Australia, due to impacts from feralanimals, weeds and changing fire patterns. A lot of thesedisappearing species can be found on Indigenous ownedland (over 40 types of animals in the NT). In generalAboriginal land is in better condition that other areas,and that’s why these species can still be found there buthave disappeared from other places.

Some projects that have been helping threatenedspecies on Indigenous land and have received fundingfrom the Threatened Species Network are:

• Mabunji Aboriginal Resource CentreLianthawirriyarra Sea Ranger Unit – undertaking surveysfor 5 small animal species that are found on the SirEdward Pellew Islands near Borroloola. One of thesespecies, the Carpentarian Antechinus, only lives onthese islands and one other place in the world (near MtIsa in Qld).

Threatened Species Network • Dhimurru Aboriginal Land Management – have donesurveys for threatened animals, turtle work and alsolooking for a threatened species of Butterfly. The projectalso wrote up a management plan to look after the rainforestpatches where the butterfly lives.• Northern Land Council –working with TraditionalOwners and the community to look after Northern Quollsthat have been moved onto islands to protect them fromCane Toads.• Kimberley Land Council – working with TraditionalOwners and the community to survey and manage athreatened fish, the Freshwater Sawfish in the Fitzroy River.

For more information on threatened species and funding/grants available contact:TSN coordinator Jarrad Holmes on 08 89417554or [email protected]. / www.wwf.org.au/tsnThe TSN Grants call for applications around Aprileach year.

The Threatened Species Network (TSN) is a jointproject of the Australian Government’s Natural HeritageTrust (NHT) and the World Wide fund for NatureAustralia (WWF).

13

A successful 3-day weeds workshop hosted byAlbert Myoung and the Malak Malak people fromWooliana Community on the Daly River was heldfrom the 2-4th November 2004.

The workshop brought together Aboriginal Rangersgroups in the Top End, in particular those working as partof the Top End Aboriginal Land Management andEmployment Strategy (TEALMES), and other agenciesworking to manage weeds on Aboriginal Lands.

Forty-five people came from all over the Top Endincluding Rangers from Wooliana, Acacia Gap, TimberCreek, Wadeye, Wudikapildiyerr, Gunbalanya andPeppimenarti. Representatives from Natural HeritageTrust, the Indigenous Land Corporation, TropicalSavannas CRC, Northern Land Council, DIPE WeedsBranch, DIPE Bushfires Council and Batchelor Institutealso attended the workshop.

Albert Myoung- the senior Ranger of the Malak MalakLand Management Team, welcomed everyone, opening theworkshop. Albert is a mentor to other Rangers as he hasworked on mimosa for over 20 years and has stopped itfrom taking over his country.

Andrew Calma, an experienced senior ranger fromAcacia Gap Land Management Team, talked about theprogress of contract work controlling mimosa on theAdelaide River. On the second day Andrew demonstratedherbicide safety and mixing which was particularly usefulto the Yantjarrwu Rangers from Wudikapildiyerr who arejust starting out.

Neville Gulay Gulay (AQIS) and Michael Schmid (NTGovernment’s Weeds Branch) spoke on the importanceof early intervention when a new weed is discovered.Legal obligations under the Weeds Management Act(2001) were also discussed. Michael Storrs (Caring forCountry Unit at the Northern Land Council) talked aboutthe current program and future opportunities in landmanagement. Sean Hawkins from Batchelor Institutediscussed training opportunities in Land Managementand Larry Johns, the Aboriginal weeds officer fromTimber Creek, spoke of his life working with weeds andenterprise opportunities in the VRD.

On the final day we went on a field trip to the nearbyShark Swamp and Red Lily to see the work that the MalakMalak Land Management Team had be doing to reducethe extent and density of mimosa.

As a practical activity the rangers developed andimplemented a Weed Management Plan for Brown’sCreek (Diggireyett) campground, near Daly River.

Weeds on AboriginalLand Workshop

The plan assessed the overall situation (i.e.how weeds interacted with the land), weedpriorities were identified; methodology for actiondetermined and future monitoring was discussed.

Specimens of all the plants in the area werecollected for identification and divided intointroduced and native. Nine introduced specieswere identified with three declared noxious weeds(Parkinsonia, Noogoora Burr and Coffee Senna)and Poinciana- a naturalised tree along the DalyRiver. The Parkinsonia was treated with herbicide,

it was decided to leave the Noogoora Burr until after wetand the Coffee Senna was pulled out by hand. LargePoincianas have value as shade for the campers so wereleft whilst smaller ones were cut down and herbicide appliedto their stump.

The workshop allowed the rangers to network and shareinformation as well as gain a better understanding of weedsoccurring on their country. It was also a great opportunityto meet and talk with other agencies working to manageweeds on Aboriginal Lands.

Many ranger groups are interested in developingenterprises to generate further income to support future work.Currently, the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) funds rangergroups working under the TEALMES strategy to undertakeland management, however core government funding will beessential for this work to continue in the future.

Story by Mark Gardener, Tropical Savannas CRC

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Larry JohnsWeeds Officer, Timber Creek

Eric and David at theweeds workshop

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GULF OF CARPENTARIA NEWS○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Alfie Johnny, Roger Mick, Marian Joe and April Peter at theMornington Island workshop.

GULF RANGERPLANS

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Traditional owners continue have a strong voicein natural resource management processes in theSouthern Gulf of Carpentaria.

Traditional owners from Garawa, Gangalidda, Waanyi,Kurtijar, Lardil and Yangkaal came together to plan forfuture land and sea management units and ranger groups,also to talk about other projects they want to be involvedin across the Southern Gulf of Carpentaria.

The Envirofund workshop was organised by theCarpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation(CLCAC) based in Burketown, with traditional owners fromsurrounding tribal groups. Murrundoo Yanner chaired theworkshop while Paul Memmott facilitated the discussion.The workshop allowed traditional owners to set theirpriorities for progressing their interests in land and seamanagement and for tribal groups to exchange ideas andexperiences. It was also an opportunity to hear about otherprojects in the Southern Gulf.

Traditional land owning groups in the Gulf have beenwaiting a long time for ranger groups and landmanagement units to be established so they can havethe resources to get on with looking after country.Developing a land and sea centre and employment forlocal rangers where agreed to be the highest priority.Traditional owners would like to see training deliveredwithin communities by training providers with input fromother experienced Aboriginal rangers.

Wunun(Mornington Island) talking about fire managment withWayne Davis (NAILSMA)

A steeringcommittee oftraditional owners,originally set-upthrough Native Titlewill overlook theranger programs.Wayne WununWilliams,traditional ownerfrom North EastMorningtonIsland(Murinyanda) said

“We’ve beentrying for along time toget thingsgoing becausewe’re underpressure and

Murrundoo Yanner (CLCAC) talks withPaul Woodhouse (SGC)

Brendan Moon reports back to theworkshop group

we really want to look after our land for ourchildren and our children’s children.”

The call for rangers groups is also a result of increasedpressures on natural resources in the area caused byincreased tourism, commercial and recreational fishing.

Wunun explained that ranger work could involvechecking on fishing boats that go up the river. “They leavetheir nets overnight and when the tides go out the turtlesand dugong get caught in thenets…I found a lot of boatsfrom trawlers catching crab inmy country, we chased themout, cause they’re overfishingthe place.”

Young people on the islandwould also like to be involvedin future ranger programs.Grayson Williams, said “I like Grayson Williamsto see a start for the ranger business, for myself andother young local fellas..go out and see differentcommunities, different areas to see how they work so wecan get ideas off them to help us with our goals and our aims forthe future. We got to come together and share ideas as Aboriginalpeople. If we come together and share our ideas than we’ll bemore recognised.”

NAILSMA was invited to attend along with representativesfrom Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation, Southern GulfCatchments Inc, National Oceans Office, WWF and Coastcare.Each organisation gave a brief background to their organisation andprojects that are about to start – which led to greater discussion insmaller groups with traditional owners voicing what they wantedout of the projects for the southern gulf.

In smaller groups people talked about Marine Parks, throughthe Northern Marine Planning process, the National OceansOffice will be working with TO’s to identify the conservationneeds for sea country. Also discussed was the management oftourists, fire management, turtle and dugong (reviving old huntingways, agreements with fishers), cross-cultural exchange andresearching marine plants and animals. (cont next page...)

15

Borroloola first to track Flatback Turtles

The Lianthawirriyarra Sea Ranger Unit,World Wide Fund for Nature, NT Parks andWildlife Service, Department of Environmentand Heritage, and WildlifeLink (Tony G.Lisette Lewis Foundation) have formed apartnership to undertake a Flatback turtletracking project on West Island, south-westGulf of Carpentaria.

Satellite transmitters have been attached to theturtles to monitor their internesting movements andtheir migration route from the nesting beach. The threeturtles involved were named “Wundunyuka”, by theschool and “Karrubu” the Borroloola community. Thethird turtle “Terrisita” was named by the traditionalowners of West Island. The Lianthawirriyarra SeaRanger Unit at Mabunji Aboriginal ResourceAssociation are very excited about the response fromthe Borroloola community to the Flatback turtle trackingproject. A presentation given by Rangers Richard Dixonand Damien Pracy was popular with the students atthe Borroloola Community Education Centre.

During the lastschool holidays, theturt le tracking teamincluding Dr ScottWhiting (WWF) andWest Island traditionalowners and theirfamilies and Borroloolacommunity members,met each turt le thatcame to nest on thebeach each night.

Wunun sees ranger jobs playing an important part in gettingthe next generation of children to be caretakers for their country.

“I like to have peace and quiet in my country and be ableto help people (white people and Aboriginal people) whenthey come to our community so we can show them our customand way of life … it’s important for us and if it’s important forus than it’s important for the whole of Australia and allIndigenous people from this country.” Wunun said.Murrundoo Yanner of CLCAC said “Aboriginal peopleare the safest long-term investment, which must be realisedthrough funding (land management) groups on the ground. Theyare also the only people not impacting or exploiting the Gulf.”○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Over the 10-day period, over 30 people camped on WestIsland to join in the turtle research project, to watch turtlesnesting, and assist with the attachment of the 3 transmitters.

One of the most captivating sights for the group wasto watch the Flatbacks and the delicate manner with whichthey used their back flippers to dig their egg chambersbefore laying their eggs. Some were lucky enough to holdhatchling turtles before they were released to the sea.

Each night, the team would walk along the beach intothe early hours of the morning, looking for fresh turtletracks and nesting turtles. After waiting patiently for eachturtle to finish nesting, the Rangers measured the turtleshell or carapace, and tagged each front flipper with a metaltag. By recording these measurements, the research teamcan study how the turtles grow over the years and the tagshelp to tell how often the turtles nest.

The Borroloola tracking study is very unique. Flatbackturtles only occur in Australia and Terrisita, Wundunyukaand Karrubu are the first Flatback turtles to be tracked innorthern Australia. Little is known about Flatback turtles,and where their feeding areas are. Studies done on Greenturtles have shown they nest in one area and migratethousands of kilometres to another area to feed. In thepast few years Green turtles have also been found feedingaround the islands off Borroloola (Sir Edward PellewIslands) they had traveled from their nesting area, RaineIsland, northern Great Barrier Reef in Queensland.

Story By Felicity Chapman

If you would like moreinformation, contact:Lianthawirriyarra Sea RangerUnit

Mabunji Aboriginal ResourceAssociationFelicity Chapman0427 970 [email protected]

To check the turtles progress visitwww.seaturtle.orgClick on ‘tracking’ icon on the top menu barSelct ‘Flatback turtles-Gulf of Carpentaria-Australia’Click on Terrisita, Wundunyuka or Karrubu forindividual tracking maps.

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Right:Damien Pracy &Dickie Dixon tagging aflatbackAbove: Flatback Hatchling

Community members get involved


CAPE YORK NEWS○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Chuula GoingStrong

Flooded Wenlock River

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Chuula Lagoon

The Home Office

he Kaanju Ngaachihomelands cover 470 000hectares, stretching over theWenlock and Pascoe Rivers incentral Cape York Peninsula.The biodiversity of Kaanjuhomelands supports many

species of fish, birds, insects, plants andanimals, including rare and threatened speciesincluding the North Eastern Tree Kangaroo.

The Wenlock River has great cultural importance toKaanju Pama (Aboriginal people) and under Kaanju lawPama are required to look after Ngaachi (country) anduse it in a sustainable way, then in return country looksafter people.

During colonisation and under official removals andassimilation policies of government many Kaanju peoplewere taken forcibly from their traditional homelands toeither Lockhart River Mission in the east or Cowal CreekMission in the north of Cape York Peninsula, or morethan 800 kilometres to the south to Yarrabah mission andPalm Island. A number of people walked home from themissions, but were sent back into incarceration. In thelate 1980s, Kaanju people returned to their homelandspermanently to reaffirm their position as primary landmanagers and to re-establish ‘proper’ Kaanju governance.

The Kaanju community of Chuulangun or Chuula(Frilled-neck Lizard Story) was re-established with limitedresources and support from government. In the early yearspeople used bush timber and donated corrugated iron tobuild sheds for houses, cooked over fires and used pit-

toilets. Kaanju peopleinitially struggled to re-occupy their traditionallands, but can now be proudof their achievements andenjoy being on countrywith family. The communitynow has more permanent

infrastructure and adequate communication servicesincluding phone, Internet and satellite TV and radio.

Chuulangun is occupied throughout the year, althoughthe wet season makes it difficult for families to stay whenthe roads are cut-off by a number of flooded rivers andcreeks. During the wet, access to food, mail and emergencyservices becomes difficult but despite this there are peoplewhose commitment is strong and continue to live onhomelands even during the wet.

During the dry season,a number of Kaanju familiesvisit Chuula however it isdifficult for some people tomake a permanentcommitment to living onhomelands as governmentcontinues to focus fundingfor housing and essentialservices such as education and health in the centralisedcommunities. Further, outside influences, such asalcohol and ‘town life’, are still strong for some people.These are two of the major challenges facingChuulangun – the focus of government on centralisationand the commitment of the people to move away fromtowns and live permanently on homelands.

The Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation wasestablished in 2002 to represent the interests of Kaanjupeople on land management issues and to facilitatesustainable homelands and economic development.The Corporation was formed from the grassroots levelon homelands and with the family-based group or clanas the basis for membership and governance. Thecorporation’s founding principle is “One must live ontheir particular homeland in order to have say in itsmanagement.” (See Kaanju website). David Claudie isa Kaanju traditional owner and Chair of the ChuulangunAboriginal Corporation and said “Government cansupport homelands development by shifting the focusof funding strategically from centralised communitiesto homelands, by acknowledging the many benefitsderived from living on homelands, by acknowledgingtheir role in forcibly removing people from homelandsand their obligation tosupport and fundappropriately the permanentmovement of Aboriginalpeople back to homelands.”

By reoccupyinghomelands Kaanju aredemonstrat ing thereaffirmation of Kaanjuland and resourcemanagement and Kaanjugovernance. The resultsof permanent communitieson homelands are self-reliance, self-sufficiency and autonomy of Kaanjupeople. Kaanju want to show other Aboriginal peoplewhat can be achieved from the grassroots level fromhomelands, and to be an example and a springboardfor other Aboriginal groups wanting to re-establishthemselves permanently on homelands.

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The meeting & working shed

Kaanju people continuallyinform the government andpublic about the need forsupport and the importance ofrelationships to homelandsthrough the Kaanju web site;

letters, emails and telephone calls to Ministers,government agencies, bureaucrats, academics; viaconference papers, academic publications, reports andplans; word-of-mouth (i.e. in the community and withneighbouring landholders on Kaanju homelands andother traditional owners) and through strategicallyplaced signage on homelands.

Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation is localised andbased on Kaanju governance structures. Thecorporation’s governing committee too is indigenousand the leaders and decision-makers under Kaanju lawand custom form this committee. The executive andgoverning committee are elected every year and thecommittee meets regularly to consider project proposalsand general community development issues.

The corporation’s guiding objectives include thedevelopment of homeland economic enterprises, thedevelopment of homeland-based projects, educationand training that will build the self-esteem of Kaanjupeople, promotion of improvements in the health,economic, social and spiritual well-being of Kaanjupeople, and encouraging others to return to homelandsand be self-reliant.

Current projects underway include the completionof the community’s airstrip; funds are being soughtfrom the Governments Regional Partnerships Programin partnership with Rural Airstrip Development Programfor commencement of the project in 2005. Chuula alsowants to build a multi-purpose centre, but is havingdifficulties finding the right program to fund the project.

David said “We are striving for the development offurther housing at Chuula to accommodate the community’sgrowing needs. With the abolishment of ATSIC we are yetto see whether the new system for funding will be able toadequately accommodate our housing and infrastructureneeds, i.e. cost efficient and environmentally appropriatehousing. A major obstacle for us is that governmentprograms continue to focus funding for housingdevelopment in centralised communities and towns therebykeeping our people in town.”

In addition the development of a renewable powersystem that will deliver the community’s power needshas been a battle. The hard work has finally paid offand a solar power system is currently being set up atChuula with assistance from the Bushlight program.

David said “This project has been an importantachievement for the Chuula community considering ourhard work lobbying over several years for funding andsupport for a renewable energy system for thecommunity. Since the reestablishment of the communityin the late 1980s we have relied on petrol or diesel rungenerators that are noisy, and very costly due to thefuel and maintenance required.”

The community created the Kaanju HomelandsLand and Resource Management Framework, whichcovers all aspects of project coordination and Kaanjuland and resource management goals.

Under this framework the community is currentlyseeking funds for a number of projects includinginfrastructure development (e.g. housing programme,airstrip and access) as well as a number of land andresource management projects (e.g. weed managementplan, fire management, essential oils and plant extracts).

One of the strategies outlined in the framework isthe establishment of an Indigenous Protected Area(IPA) over Kaanju homelands. Chuulangun AboriginalCorporation’s application to the Commonwealthgovernment’s IPA program was approved and anagreement has been signed with the Department ofEnvironment and Heritage. The Chuula communityare currently working on a Plan of Management forthe area of Kaanju homelands to be investigated forIPA establishment.

David said “Our application to the IPA programhas been approved and we are currently working on aPlan of Management for the area of our homelands tobe considered for IPA establishment. This project alsoinvolves on-ground land management activitiesincluding the protection of significant sites, camp siteestablishment and weed and feral animal control.

Our Chuulangun campgrounds project has alsobeen progressed with funding approved under theQueensland Department of State Development andInnovation’s indigenous Business DevelopmentGrants Scheme. In the coming dry season we will beestablishing serviced campgrounds with toiletfacilities on the upper Wenlock River to accommodatepassing tourists as well as organised tour groups and‘tag-a-long’ tours. This project is only the start of theChuulangun indigenous Cultural Eco-TourismVenture. In coming years we will be developing ‘spin-off’ products, such as bush-walks, bird-watching andcampfire yarns.”

The corporation has also secured funding underthe Natural Heritage Trusts Envirofund. The project‘Rehabilitation of Riverine Environments on the upperWenlock River’ will target the revegetation of adegraded section of the river with a rare species ofAcacia. The 12-month project will commence inJanuary 2005.

Under the land and resource managementframework Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation hasalso formed partnerships with individuals andorganisations including the Centre for AboriginalEconomic Policy Research (CAEPR), the TropicalSavannas Management Cooperative Research Centreand more. David was the Inaugural CAEPRIndigenous Visiting Fellow in 2003. There were anumber of outcomes of this fellowship, including thepublication of a CAEPR Discussion Paper (availablefor download from the CAEPR website), thedevelopment of important project collaborations andthe establishment of valuable networks with otherIndigenous groups.David says, “If Australia is to move ahead, if Aboriginalpeople are to move ahead, if the land and resources ofAustralia are to be sustainable for present and futuregenerations of Australians, both Indigenous and non-


A Participatory evaluation framework for theAboriginal ranger programs in the Top End.Many people here in the Northern Territory andin other parts of Australia have been payingparticular attention to how Aboriginal peoplehere care for their country.

Many know about the Caring for Country Unit at theNorthern land Council (NLC) and the associated Aboriginalcommunity ranger groups who have been working out bushto make country healthy.

Certainly, events in the past ten years show that rangergroups are popular among communities and more new groupsare forming everyday. So people in government and thoseworking in community development have started askingquestions. What are these community ranger groups? Why isthere such enthusiasm about these groups? How do theyoperate ? What impact have they been having on country andthe wellbeing of Aboriginal communities out bush.? All theseare very important questions but few answers are available.

Very little has been written about the communityranger groups. The research that is available now tellsonly part but no where near the whole story. It is hard totell stories that ranger groups will read and say yes thisis our story, we see what we do in that story, you havetold it just as we would have told it.

Finding the FootprintsWe want to look for these footprints with you and we

want you to explain them, to show where in yourmanagement these footprints come out clear and wherethey sometimes are much harder to see and to read. Weplan to visit women’s and men ‘s ranger groups. We alsoplan to visit and talk to the traditional owners and talk tothem about managing country, listen to their stories andfind out about their hopes and expectations for the future.

If we tell the caring for country story well, we hopethat others especially those government will see theopportunities and support your efforts to care for country.

Our group will start work in January 2005 and finish inDecember 2006. To be able to do this work we havereceived money and other kinds of support from CSIRO,the NLC the Key Centre for Tropical Wildlife Managementat Charles Darwin University and the Northern TerritoryInnovation Fund of the Northern Territory Government.

For further information or contributions to this projectplease contact: Bev Sithole at CSIRO PMB 44 Winnelle NT 0822,Tel. 08 8944 8418 email address [email protected]:or Wayne Barbour at the NLC Casuarina, NT 0909,Tel. 89205210 email [email protected]

Your work on country isleaving footprints.

By Bev Sithole and Wayne Barbour

KANTRI LAIF

ISSUE 2 !!!

Coming soon........

Send your stories to:Lisa Binge @Charles DarwinUniversityDarwin NT 0909Or email:[email protected]

Indigenous, the government has to recognise appropriatelythe sovereignty of Aboriginal people. Government mustrecognise Indigenous sovereignty in the land and resources,and Indigenous governance and cosmology that underlieour land and resource management and our kinship system.Importantly, they must recognise that Indigenousgovernance and cosmology are as relevant today as in thepast. Government in Australia must work with Aboriginalpeople particularly concerned with land and resourcemanagement on homelands. They must recognise thedifferent forms of Aboriginal governing bodies, in particularhomelands-based organisations, and that funding andsupport of such organisations results in far better benefitsall around including sustainable land and resourcemanagement, and improvement in health, social, economicand spiritual well-being.”

Kaanju show that commitment to Ngaachi andcommitment to proper ‘Indigenous’ governance can achievea lot in terms of self-determination and reaffirmation of landand resource management on homelands.

All information was accessed fromwww.kaanjungaachi.com.au and thanks to DavidClaudie for his contributions.For more information contactDavid ClaudieChuulangun, Upper Wenlock RiverCape York PeninsulaQLD 4871Email: [email protected]

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On country people See last page for details onwhere to send your photos

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Kantri Laif Produced by theNorth Australian Indigenous Landand Sea Management Alliance

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Thanks to Issue 1 Contributors:Bill PantonFelicity ChapmanRobin KnoxBev SitholeWayne BarbourMark GardenerAlan (Doodie) LawfordDavid Claudie

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Kantri LaifThe title of this newspaper “Kantri Laif”

(coun-try li-fe) is spelt in Kriol. It is a tenativename only and is not intended to reflect anyother publicaitons with similar names.

The people/groups featured in Kantri Laifmay not necessarily be a formal member ofthe North Australian Indigenous Land and SeaManagement Alliance. NAILSMA may notrepresent the views of all those featured in thisissue and aims only to showcase the landmanagement activities being undertaken byIndigenous individuals/groups in NorthAustralia.

Kantri Laif Issue 1 - NAILSMA

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