By Lisa Binge
Fifty Indigenous youth from across northern Australia have taken
another step towards leading the way in their communities,
following the first ever Indigenous Youth Land and Sea Managers
Forum.
The Youth Forum, organised by the North Australian
Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) was aimed at
supporting youth leadership.
“NAILSMA supports the future generations of Indigenous
land and sea managers, who will be responsible for much of northern
Australia.” Lisa Binge of NAILSMA said.
“We need to examine ways in which we can support youth, as
well as give participants the opportunity to meet other youth and
form their own support networks.
”During the two-day forum, youth participated in a
number of workshops and had the opportunity to brush up on skills
like public speaking and report writing.
“Young people need to have the appropriate skills and
their eyes wide open for the big job ahead.
”Participants also gave individual presentations of the
types of land and sea management work they are involved in back
home.
Projects showcased included the Yiriman Project in the
Kimberley, a project initiated by Aboriginal elders through
concerns that young people had no jobs and no future.
A participant also talked about being involved in the Cape York
Traditional Knowledge Recording Project that trains young people to
use video cameras to record Elders' knowledge on their homelands
and store this knowledge for future generations.
Guest presenters were invited from NT Fisheries, Australian
Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS), Northern Territory
Government’s Indigenous Economic Taskforce and the Department
of Natural Resources and the Arts.
Indigenous MLA and Member for Arnhem Barbara McCarthy was also a
guest presenter and gave an inspiring speech to participants.
“It was fantastic to have Barbara McCarthy at the forum.
Participants enjoyed her talk and said her words were very
inspiring.
”“The forum was successful in bringing together
young representatives from across North Australia including
Torres Strait, Cape York, Gulf of Carpentaria, Northern
Territory and the Kimberley.
”“We received great feedback and everyone’s
looking forward to the next forum.
The NAILSMA Youth Forum was held on 9th and 10th March 2006, at
the Darwin Airport Resort.NAILSMA would like to acknowledge
the Tropical Savannas CRC, The Christensen Fund and the
Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage
for sponsoring the forum.
