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Forum Delegates
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The Saltwater People Network’s annual Planning and
Feedback Forum was held at the Murraya Function Centre in
Smithfield (near Cairns) from 1-3 March, 2011.
The Forum was held on Yirrganydji Country, which includes
coastal land and sea country between the Barron River and Mowbray.
Forum participants were welcomed by Yirrganydji Traditional Owners
Gavin Singleton and Melanie Mitchell.
Indigenous land and sea management organisations from the
Kimberley, Top End, Gulf Country and Cape York were represented by
30 participants. Also in attendance were guests from government,
non-government and research organisations who were invited to hear
Indigenous perspectives on land and sea management and share their
knowledge.
The Queensland setting provided the opportunity for land and sea
managers from the southern Gulf and Cape York to highlight regional
issues.
The Forum reviewed the achievements of SPN over the last 12
months, including significant growth in the I-Tracker project as well as
increasing skill levels in the use of CyberTracker software and
data management. Participants discussed future developments in
I-Tracker including supporting NAILMSA’s plans to develop
applications to support land-based surveys and patrols and broaden
the range of environmental and cultural data collected through
I-Tracker.
Rangers and community participants endorsed the value of sharing
their environmental data to improve management of species and
habitats across north Australia, as well as to demonstrate to
government, funding bodies and other stakeholders the value of the
monitoring work being done Indigenous rangers. Participants agreed
that the Intellectual property of the data owners’ needed to
be protected and endorsed NAILSMA’s approach in developing
legally robust data sharing protocols.
Participants at the forum discussed and endorsed the SPN
Strategic Plan, which was developed by the SPN team in
collaboration with the Regional Facilitators from NAILSMA member
and partner organisations. The Strategic Plan is a guiding document
to assist NAILSMA members, partners and project participants to
prioritise project activities, assess progress, and communicate
project goals, activities and achievements.
A highlight for participants was the opportunity to meet with
fellow Indigenous land and sea managers from across north Australia
to network and build on ties established at the inaugural SPN
planning Forum held in the Northern Territory in 2010.
Many of the groups represented at the forum can be seen on
NAILSMA’s Saltwater Country Manager’s map. The map
shows locations and provides details of Indigenous land and sea
management groups from across north Australia. If your organisation
is not included on the map or if your organisation has not yet
provided details for the map but would like to, please contact
Billee McGinley, I-Tracker Development
Officer.
Participants have their say about the Forum
“I came hungry for knowledge and ideas, and I leave full
and satisfied.”
Chris Dean, Lockhart River
To hear what the other participants had to say, view the story
report below.
