Looking After Country The NAILSMA I-Tracker story NORTH AUSTRALIan INDIGENOUS LanD anD SEA ManaGEMENT ALLIanCE LTD Looking After Country The NAILSMA I-Tracker story www.nailsma.org.au 2 Copyright © 2014 North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd. This publication is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process, without Contents written permission from the publisher. Foreword ......................................................................................................... 2 For requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights contact: North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd. PO Box 486 Charles Darwin University NT 0815 Australia Indigenous land and sea rangers ..................................................................... 4 www.nailsma.org.au Title: Looking After Country: The NAILSMA I-Tracker story Indigenous land and sea management in north Australia ............................... 16 Published by: North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd. ISBN: 978-0-9807-3698-4 The NAILSMA I-Tracker program ..................................................................... 22 Published: November 2014 Edition: First edition Suggested citation: North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea I-Tracker Saltwater Country Patrol Application ............................................... 36 Management Alliance Ltd 2014, Looking After Country: The NAILSMA I-Tracker story, NAILSMA, Darwin, NT. I-Tracker Land Patrol Application ..................................................................... 70 Design: Leonie Molloy, Kate Duigan Printed in Australia by UniPrint NT Working together ............................................................................................ 126 Acknowledgements Funding support for the NAILSMA I-Tracker program has been provided by: Looking ahead ................................................................................................. 174 The Australian Government The Australian Government’s National Environmental Research Program The Nature Conservancy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this publication may contain images of people who have died. Across north Australia, stretching from the towns and communities of the Cape York Peninsula, through the Top End and to the coast of Western Australia, Indigenous people continue to occupy, own and use the vast majority of marine and terrestrial landscapes. Added to this is a rich history of thousands of generations of traditional wisdom, language, knowledge and spiritual connection to practically every square kilometre of the region. This is the reality which makes north Australia very much an Indigenous domain. Indigenous people have demonstrated extraordinary resilience in maintaining use and occupation of their physical, social and cultural environments. Despite cultural and social strengths, colonisation and associated historical acts over generations have challenged the capacity of Indigenous communities to pursue their traditional and customary obligations. There is, however, growing recognition of the importance of applying traditional Indigenous knowledge, skills and systems to manage traditional estates. This recognition must be reinforced in both public and private sectors, so that the preservation of Indigenous estates becomes pivotal in the management of the ‘national estate’, for all Australians. As shown throughout the stories in this volume, NAILSMA’s I-Tracker program is unique for its ability to bring together the use of western science and technology with traditional knowledge systems, to develop appropriate modern methodologies that can respond to contemporary challenges and opportunities, and build greater resilience in our natural and built environments for future generations. North Australia—its people, cultural traditions, landscape, and biodiversity—is of global significance. There are few landscapes on earth where traditional Indigenous societies and their physical environments have survived relatively intact. However, regardless of the circumstances that Indigenous people find themselves in within their particular regions or nation-states, there is a universal connection. Through the sharing of our stories we can both celebrate our survival and achievements as well as benefit from the lessons learned by the accomplishments of others. By working together, we can build on our contributions to a resilient and prosperous future that benefits the entire community. This publication is a testament to the unique collaboration between the Traditional Owners who have provided their knowledge and support for this publication, and the committed and dedicated individuals who through their service with NAILSMA have made this book possible, both in terms of their research and editorial contribution. NAILSMA would like to particularly acknowledge Joe Morrison, Rod Kennett, Micha Jackson, Erica McCreedy, Vanessa deKoninck, Christy Davies, Billee McGinley and Leonie Molloy. Peter Yu Foreword NAILSMA Chair 2 3 Approximate locations of the head offices of the ranger groups who are featured in this book Indigenous land and sea rangers are collectively 1 Apudthama Rangers responsible for over 25 million hectares of land and 2 Balanggarra Rangers sea country across north Australia. The collective 3 Bardi Jawi Rangers experience of these rangers, and the numerous 4 Crocodile Islands Rangers 5 Dambimangari Rangers partnerships and exchanges facilitated by their 6 Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation involvement in the I-Tracker network, are central to 7 Djelk Rangers the ongoing success of NAILSMA’s I-Tracker program. 8 Gooniyandi Rangers Rangers across north Australia collaborate with the I-Tracker 9 Gumurr Marthakal Rangers program as a key component of their resource management 10 Kalan Land Management planning and activities on a wide range of environmental 11 Lama Lama Rangers issues. Through the program, rangers receive access to tools, 12 li-Anthawirriyarra Sea Rangers training and support that have been developed in close 13 Mapoon Land and Sea Rangers partnership with Indigenous rangers, scientists and natural 14 Nanum Wungthim Land and Sea Rangers resource management experts. This ensures scientifically 15 Nyul Nyul Rangers robust processes and protocols meet the specific needs of 16 Pormpuraaw Rangers people doing on-ground work on their country. 17 Uunguu Rangers In preparing this book, an invitation was extended to all of 18 Yirralka Rangers Indigenous land and the ranger groups who work with the I-Tracker program to submit stories that showcase their land and sea management activities. This section profiles those ranger groups who sea rangers contributed content to the book. 4 5 Apudthama Rangers Balanggarra Rangers Bardi Jawi Rangers Crocodile Islands Rangers The Balanggarra Rangers, based out The Bardi Jawi Rangers, established The Crocodile Islands Rangers of Wyndham, look after the country in 2006, are based at Ardyaloon (One were established in 2010 by the within their Native Title Claim in Arm Point), on the Dampier Peninsula Yan-nhangu Traditional Owners of the East Kimberley region. Five big in the West Kimberley region. The the remote Crocodile Islands area rivers of the North Kimberley (the rangers manage approximately 1100 in north-east Arnhem Land, through King, Forest, Durack, Pentecost and km2 of land and over 2000 km2 of sea support from Traditional Owner Ord Rivers) run within their coastal country, including the northern tip of Laurie Baymarrwangga. The rangers, and inland claim area. They manage the Dampier Peninsula, the islands based on Milingimbi Island, comprise The Apudthama Land Trust Land and Sea Rangers look after country that is listed for National Heritage values, as well as of the Sunday Archipelago, and over 200 km of coastline. The nine Indigenous rangers and numerous volunteers who are land and sea business in the far north of Cape York, in an area a declared Indigenous Protected Area. The full-time rangers Bardi Jawi Indigenous Protected Area was declared in 2013, responsible for protecting their land and sea country, including known as the Northern Peninsula Area. They represent the conduct patrols of their country by boat, helicopter and car. and will guide the management of Bardi Jawi country for years nearly 10,000 km2 of sea country and 250 km2 of registered Traditional Owners of Gudang, Yadaigana, Anggkamurthi and The Balanggarra Rangers are part of the Kimberley Land to come. The Bardi Jawi Rangers are part of the Kimberley sacred sites. All ranger activities are directed and approved by Atambaya, and manage expansive coastal areas and sea country Council’s Kimberley Ranger Network. Land Council’s Kimberley Ranger Network. an Executive Committee of local Traditional Owners. that extends to the outer limits of the Great Barrier Reef. Crocodile Islands Rangers Apudthama Balanggarra Rangers Rangers Bardi Jawi Rangers Qld NT WA WA 6 7 Dambimangari Rangers Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation Djelk Rangers Gooniyandi Rangers The Dambimangari Rangers Dhimurru is an incorporated Established in 1991, the Djelk Rangers The Gooniyandi Rangers are based are based in Derby, in the West Aboriginal organisation established of Maningrida in Arnhem Land out of Fitzroy Crossing, and look Kimberley, with satellite ranger in 1992 by Yolngu landowners in represent over 102 clans