Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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site specific
region wide
Looking after Kimberley Saltwater Country
The Saltwater people of the Kimberley coastline are recording their laws and other traditional knowledge on the use and future management of the coastline from Derby to Wyndham.
Funding
To capture this information a special project was undertaken, funded with almost $130,000 from the Australian Government plus support from the State Government through the Rangelands NRM Co-ordinating Group.
Activities
The project has documented Indigenous natural and cultural values and assets for the North Kimberley coastal and marine environment.
Project Manager Tom Vigalante said the region included four Indigenous groups - Mayala, Dambimangari, Uunguu and Balanggarra - which were represented on a 12 person steering committee. Knowledge covered included: language names and knowledge for places, animals and plants; stories for places; custodians for places; information about turtles and dugongs; and knowledge essential for future natural and cultural resource management.
"We added the cultural information to a database of more than 1000 entries, which were taken from field notes and audio-visual materials from sea trips and workshops," Tom said. "These were converted into a Geographical Information System (GIS) so maps could be generated from the data and used as a basic planning tool for the project."
"Each of the saltwater groups took at least one 'on-country' sea trip, which was an opportunity for Traditional Owners to get 'back to country' and help the transfer of knowledge between generations," Tom said.
"Many participants were visiting the country for the first time and some elders had not been back to parts of their country for more than 50 years. Elders were able to share the names and stories associated with important places to younger people. This was the largest recording of Traditional Owners' values ever done in this region."
Achievements
The project culminated in a final report, which recommended the "recognition of the rights and values of Traditional Owners to be included in decision-making on their country" and the establishment of "a system of access management for the North Kimberley coastal and marine region that incorporates the informed consent and involvement of Traditional Owners."
One suggestion was a user pays system for access to the North Kimberley allowing a levy to be charged to tourists and other visitors wanting to access key sites, to help cover the cost of environmental and cultural management.
The report also recommended Traditional Owners be more closely involved with planning, implementation and management processes in the North Kimberley coastal and marine environment. Some suggestions included education programs, cultural awareness training, policy change and employment of Traditional Owners as rangers.
More information
- Tom Vigalante, Project manager: (08) 9193 1118 or tom.vigilante@klc.org.au
See also
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