Remembering Kalem Ronberg
I would like to make a statement about Kalem Ronberg's
contribution to Indigenous people in north Australia during his
short time here at NAILSMA.
Kalem's first task with us was to organise the inaugural gathering
for Indigenous people at Mary River to discuss water rights in
north Australia.
It was clear from the start that his charisma, dedication,
intelligence, humour and ability to do what was asked of him
shone like a beacon. This meeting was attended by many
Indigenous leaders from across north Australia, and through his
ability to work as a team member, soon developed into a profoundly
important event for Indigenous people in the north.
We all remember this event with a smile knowing that it has his
personal mark on it, and because it reminds us all of our brief but
valuable time with him.
Photo: Kalem's fire at Mary River was the backdrop to the
welcome to country ceremony.
Joe
Morrison CEO
Back to
top
Papua New Guinea Exchange Story
Report On-Line
Indigenous land and sea managers from north Australia attended a
cultural and technical exchange in Papua New Guinea during
November last year. The delegates captured their experiences
through a series of photographs and audio recordings. These
elements have been combined to produce a Story Report for their
communities. With the participants’ permission, we are
delighted to present these stories to you.
Visit the PNG Story Report
page on the NAILSMA website to view 27 short video
stories.
Back to
top
I-Tracker Brochure
Check out the new I-Tracker brochure available for download from
the NAILSMA website. The brochure outlines the fundamentals of the
I-Tracker project including:
- the guiding principles of I-Tracker
- what's needed to use I-Tracker; and
- what sort of information is collected by the I-Tracker
application.
Also included is a section on CyberTracker,
the software utilised by the I-Tracker project.
Visit the I-Tracker
page on the NAILSMA website to download your copy.
Back to
top
I-Tracker Workshops at KLC Ranger
Forum
Photo: Bardi Jawi Ranger Nathan Sampi using the Sea Ranger
I-Tracker application.
During April 12 to 16, Indigenous rangers from all over the
Kimberley (and some from further afield) gathered at Home Valley
Station on the Gibb River Road in the Kimberley, WA for the
historic inaugural Kimberley Ranger Forum.
Staff from NAILSMA’s Saltwater People Network attended the
forum to deliver a series of I-Tracker workshops to various ranger
groups over the four day event. Rangers completed a mock patrol
using the sea ranger I-Tracker application and were introduced to
the mapping and reporting capabilities of CyberTracker, the
software used in the I-Tracker project.
To learn more about KLC Ranger Forum, visit the Forum
page on the KLC website.
To learn more about I-Tracker, visit the I-Tracker
page on the NAILSMA website.
The I-Tracker project is supported by NAILSMA, through funding from
the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country
program.
Micha
Jackson, I-Tracker Project Development Officer
Joshua
Kitchens, Communication and Network Officer
Back to
top
Jonas Lewin - NAILSMA
Apprentice
NAILSMA welcomes new staff member - Jonas Lewin. Jonas is
a saltwater man – a Torres Straight Islander. His parents
have traditional links to Mussig and Boigu Islands . He was
educated in Darwin and calls himself a local. Jonas is a trainee
apprentice studying Certificate II in Business Studies, which he
sees as a first step to a Diploma in Business. His position is
supported by Charles Darwin University through its Indigenous
Apprenticeship program. He is also a keen follower of sport. To
read more about Jonas, visit hisstaff web
page.
Back to
top
New Saltwater People Network
Coordinator
Shane Stevens has joined the Saltwater
People Network Team as acting coordinator of the
Network.
Shane comes to the Saltwater People Network with extensive
experience as a scientific researcher as well as an environmental
resource manager. Shane has valuable practical experience working
with Aboriginal communities across the Northern Territory. View
Shane’s
profile on the NAILSMA website.
Back to
top
Indigenous Water Policy Group
News
NAILSMA launched its first formal Indigenous Water Policy Statement
at Parliament House in Darwin on 24th March. At the launch,
Professor Patrick Dodson stressed that the Policy Statement
provides a chance to get things right in the north - to include
Indigenous people in nation building, and make sure they are part
of the economic development of their land.
In a media statement, Joe Morrison added that the Policy Statement
is a clear declaration of the terms upon which Indigenous people
want to be engaged in water planning and reforms in the north. Find
out more about thePolicy
Statement and its launch by going to the NAILSMA
website.
Coinciding with the policy launch, the Indigenous
Water Policy Group (IWPG) convened for its 11th
meeting . NAILSMA through its IWPG is working toward a
strategic approach that integrates land and water resource
management. Water can no longer be examined in isolation based on
several meetings hosted by NAILSMA. This principle is one of a
number of principles that have been adopted by the IWPG from the
Mary River Statement, which was issued in August 2009.
Lorrae
McArthur
Coordinator, Indigenous
Water Policy Group
Back to
top
Water Team's Tribute to Kalem
The members of the NAILSMA Indigenous Water Resource Management
Program pay a very special tribute to and acknowledge the
achievements and contribution of Kalem Ronberg. Though
greatly missed, your strength will remain constant in our
'standing together for Indigenous water rights'.
Back to
top
Dry Season Indigenous Knowledge
Projects
Several Indigenous Knowledge projects are scheduled for the coming
dry season.
The Yugul Mangi rangers based in the Ngukurr area of the
Arnhem–Gulf region (purple dot on map) are planning to
conduct a walk between Warrpani and Ngilipitji areas inland from
Blue Mud Bay. The walk will concentrate on passing on knowledge
about use of fire and caring for pockets of rainforest.
The Groote Eylandt Milyakburra Youth Development Unit will
conduct an ‘Anindilyakwan Ancestors’ project (red
dot). Each young person involved chooses an elder from their
clan and will do trips with these elders on to their land,
recording stories from their childhood and their life, talking
about land, totems and culture.
Traditional owners and families of Rembarrnga people at
Maljarnanyak will be walking from Maljarnanyak to the
Nimirrili crossing on the Blythe River. The walk will follow a
tributary of the Blyth River from Maljarnanyak all the way down to
the crossing (yellow dot). Much of the walk will be through
remote stone country and will be assisted by members of the
Gurruwiling ranger group.
More to come in the next e-news.
David
Wise
Program Officer, Indigenous
Ecological Knowledge Project
Back to
top
Jeremy Wilson Joins the Water
Team
Jeremy Wilson has joined the Indigenous Community
Water Facilitator team in the Gulf, working with Tonya
Murray at the Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
(CLCAC).
Prior to joining CLCAC, Jeremy was employed by the Century
Environment Committee for 5 years through the Gulf Communities
Agreement at Century Mine as an Environment Liaison Officer. His
role included overseeing the environmental standards and
responsibilities of MMG Mining and any dealing with the concerns of
community and Native Title holders in relation to all Century
mining and port site operations. He answered to Community and
Native Title Groups. Prior to that Jeremy worked with in the Gulf
Communities as a carpenter and Joiner, building new homes and
renovations.
Jeremy is also working with the Gangalidda Native Title Group in
planning for an Indigenous Protected Area along the Gangalidda
coast. Jeremy also works with the Saltwater People Network and
supports the three CLCAC rangers groups with using I-Tracker, the
Carpentaria Ghost Nets Program and various other smaller projects
being delivered through the Carpentaria Land Council.
Back to
top
Dean Matthews Joins the Team
too!
Dean Matthews has taken up a Water Facilitator position in the
West Kimberley. He has a background in the Water Information
field. After completing a Traineeship and joining the Water
Information Branch of the WA Dept of Water (DoW), he gained a lot
of valuable experience.
"My job involved visiting remote Kimberley River gauging
stations to downloading annual river and rainfall data collected
during the wet season, taking River Flow measurements along the
Fitzroy River, groundwater monitoring in Broome and Ord Valley and
assisting senior hydro geologists with the Fitzroy River
groundwater/surface water interaction project creating a bore data
base for the lower Fitzroy River.
"I am excited to join both NAILSMA and the Kimberley Land Council
and look forward to working with and learning from the Indigenous
communities of the West Kimberley. I think I have a lot to offer
the Indigenous community, and would like to pass on the knowledge
that I have been able to gain while working for the WA
Government.
"I believe that we Aboriginal People have an inherent right to Land
and Water which cannot be separated in the recognition of our
Native Title Rights."
Dean Matthews, Water Facilitator, West Kimberley
Back to
top
More Water Facilitator Network
News
Photo: L-R Peter Pender, Annette Kogolo, Waubin Richard Aken,
Tonya Murray, Sonia Leonard, (Jeremy Wilson and Dean Matthews
appear in stories above).
Water Facilitators took part in the launch
of the Indigenous
Water Policy Statement in Darwin in March, working behind
the scenes to help deliver this successful event. They also
presented updates of their projects to the 11th meeting of the
Indigenous
Water Policy Group. The Water Policy Statement, the
Mary
River Statement, and the outcomes of the North
Australian Taskforce Report , are now part of the water
story they are spreading across north Australia as the foundation
for Indigenous involvement in water planning.
Sonia Leonard (Water Facilitator - Kimberley, WA)
Sonia, now located at Kimberley Land Council in Broome, is
maintaining East Kimberley project activities, but taking on a
Kimberley wide focus, including will support Dean Matthews in the
west Kimberley when he commences in this month. Sonia and Annette
Kogolo also participated at the Kimberley Ranger Forum. Sonia and
David Newry participated in Climate Change Forum (Traditional
Weather Knowledge) in Darwin. A work plan is being developed for
the West Kimberley project to incorporate a Community Water
Planning (potable water quality) project to work with 20
communities during the next year.
Annette Kogolo (Cultural Advisor for Water Facilitators -
Kimberley region, WA)
Annette facilitated the TRaCK ‘River Changes’ stories
and presented at the Commonwealth Environmental Research Facilities
conference at Canberra’s Old Parliament House. She also had a
Kimberley Aboriginal Reference Group (KARG) meeting with
representatives from peak Kimberley organisations about Natural
Resource Management issues. Annette has restructured her position
to a cultural advisor role to support the Kimberley Water
Facilitators in interpreting language, presentations, research and
project work associated with Higher Education Recognition of
Traditional Knowledge Holders (HERTKH).
Peter Pender (Water Facilitator - Daly region, NT)
An internal Northern Land Council (NLC) Water Policy Team has been
set up to progress regional strategies and planning. Peter has been
involved in Daly River Aboriginal Reference Group (DRARG) meetings,
providing updates, guidance and planning workshops. Peter met and
liaised with NT Government (NREATAS) Water Planning regional
coordinators, and coordinated Oolloo Aquifer and DRARG
representatives at a Katherine meeting for Water Allocation Plans.
He has also facilitated Mataranka Traditional Owners’
meeting, introducting the NAILSMA Indigenous Water Program, Water
Allocation Planning and a research proposal by CSIRO and TRaCK.
Tonya Murray (Water Facilitator- Gregory catchment/Gulf Region,
Qld) and Jeremy Wilson - Project Support Officer
Tonya and Jeremy have had limited community access due to late wet
season flooding. Jeremy is liaising and seeking reports from the
local mining company in the region. The Gregory River Canoe Race
weekend was an opportunity to engage relevant stakeholders. Both
Tonya and Jeremy interviewed a number of people with series of six
questions. They followed this up by speaking to Traditional Owners
family groups around the region. They are currently updating office
coordination and planning to visit other communities when
accessible.
Waubin Richard Aken (Water Facilitator - Wenlock region,
Qld)
Waubin has visited Central Cape York and had workshops with Coen
Community and Ranger Group, where he noted a high level of interest
in water quality management, including drinking and monitoring. He
wants to facilitate training opportunities (or equivalent) to Coen
for Community Water Planning. Waubin is currently based in Weipa
and has been engaging community participants in planning
discussions and held meetings with relevant stakeholders and
associated business organisations.
Go to the NAILSMA ICWFN web page to download a copy of this
latest
ICWFN News Bulletin.
Hugh
Wallace Smith, Coordinator Indigenous Community Water
Facilitator Network
Back to
top
Adaption to Climate Change
Workshop
Photo: Djapirri Mununggurritj, Traditional Owner at East Arnhem
presenting an emotional plea for governments to engage Indigenous
people in their decision making regarding climate change policies
affecting the north.
A recent workshop held in Darwin on Adaptation to
Climate Change in Indigenous Populations was a great
success bringing together over 50 participants from across the
nation. The workshop was brought together by NAILSMA and funded by
the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility and the
University of Melbourne.
The workshop was an essential follow up from climate change
discussions held in 2006 and provided a consolidated understanding
of the current status in the north of Australia. It focused on the
unavoidable actions and discussions needed around adaptation,
opportunity and risk management, all of which are now being
summarised in a NAILSMA report.
Many regional representatives passionately spoke about
environmental and socio economic changes that are clearly emerging
and creating climate change casualties. Participants also took the
opportunity over the two day workshop to network with others in
similar circumstances on issues such as monitoring changes and
community strategic plans. Participants took great notice of the
strong voices on country calling for support for infrastructure and
resources to deal with changes that are now being witnessed. It was
also the venue for a loud cry to see the release of a DCCEE report
The
Risks from Climate Change to Indigenous Communities in the Tropical
North written last year and edited by Donna Green, Sue
Jackson and Joe Morrison. Whilst the report unfortunately did not
have clearance for this workshop, it was however released to the
public in May. View the workshop web
page for more information.
Back to
top
NAILSMA Carbon Library Online
The Carbon
Project has a small but growing library of information on -
yes, you guessed it - Carbon. Hopefully it will become a great
source of the latest online videos, articles and research
reports.
We would like your suggestions on what to include, so if you know
of a fantastic carbon related article just out then email it to
NAILSMA.
The page format will also be updated later this year to add ease of
navigation - but we will let you know when that happens.
Visit the Carbon
Library to view the very important report just released by
the Department of Climate Change, Environment and Efficiency
(DCCEE) called Risks from
Climate Change to Indigenous Communities in the Tropical North of
Australia. It is a must read for anyone living in the
north especially those communities which may be vulnerable!
Back to
top
Recent Book Launch
NAILSMA recently launched a new book edited by Jeremy
Russell-Smith, Peter Whitehead and Peter Cooke, titled
Culture, Ecology and Economy of Fire Management in North
Australian Savannas: Rekindling the Wurrk Tradition. It was
launched by Ms Marion Scrymgour MLA on April 20th on Darwin's
Esplanade as a part of the National Natural Resource Management
Knowledge Conference. Over 100 guests were there to see the launch
and browse through this very valuable resource.
You can purchase the book through CSIRO
Publishing and view the Launch flyer on the NAILSMA
website.
Back to
top
|
