Full title of project: Intergenerational Transfer of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge 

The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) has grant funding available for Intergenerational Transfer of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge — younger people learning from older people. If you are in the area covered by the Northern Land Council, Tiwi Land Council or Anindilyakwa Land Council you can apply for these grants.

The themes and purpose of the project must clearly be:

• time spent in the presence of senior knowledge holders
• learning and observing traditional custodianship and respect for the land
• nurturing an enthusiasm for cultural and natural resource management practice in the younger generation while undertaking relevant on-country activities
• developing an understanding of the complex traditional relationships between land and the people, providing a clearer understanding of traditional land management

All Indigenous knowledge which helps people look after country is part of IEK.

Grants are available until late 2009 for projects that support younger people learning about how to look after country properly from Elders and other knowledge holders.

This project is supported by funding from the Commonwealth Government through the Northern Territory Natural Resource Management Board.

Types of grants available

1. Grants of $1000 - $20,000

Grants under $20,000 are decided on by the NAILSMA IEK Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) which will meet frequently and issue grants funding. These smaller projects have a simpler grant application and reporting procedure.
You can download the project grant application from this page, at right.

2. Grants of more than $20,000

If the grant application is larger than $20,000, the TAP makes a recommendation to another board, the Natural Resource Management Board of the NT which can then give approval for the project to go ahead.
However, these applications should initially be submitted on the NAILSMA IEK application form.

Talking Culture on Country IEK projects can be associated with other projects or programs. If another project deals with areas related to IEK , but can improve IEK transfer outcomes with supplementary funding, it is appropriate to apply for IEK grants.

Applications of less than $20,000 can be assessed responsively on submission, those for more than $20,000 must be assessed at scheduled meetings. Scheduled meetings will be held in response to the submission of grants for more than $20,000.

More about Talking Culture on Country

Intergenerational transfer means younger people learning about country, language and culture from older people who hold knowledge.

Indigenous people know about their country in many ways. This knowledge is not only about the things on their country like plants, animals, seasons, water, medicines and food. Indigenous Knowledge also includes things like songs, kinship and stories for country as well as the things that people have to do to look after their country, like cleaning up, visiting and doing ceremony.

Knowing about country and all the relationships and responsibilities that people have to country is understood as Indigenous Ecological Knowledge. It is the Aboriginal way of knowing about country.

Applications will be accepted from individuals or groups wanting to talk country and culture to younger people about particular places. The program is meant to support applicants who have developed, or want to develop, a project or activities in which there is plenty of contact and communication between senior knowledge holders and younger generations.

It is important that applications address the following assessment criteria, as decisions to fund projects will be based on these criteria.