Kimberley Case Study

The West Kimberley case study is focused on the lower Martuwarra Fitzroy River, where people from the Pandanus Park community and the Martuwarra River Keepers participate with researchers, using Aboriginal ways of learning and knowing. Currently engaging in various activities, such as the development of a Riverside Walking Trail for tourism and a Nyikina Language Hub; formal training in a Mobile Journalism course and informal experience in facilitating workshops, the River Keepers lead or take part in creative cultural interpretation of knowledge of Country, including observations of changes due to influences such as climate change. The River Keepers include filmmakers, artists, dancers, performers, and/or poets who use methods and insights built upon generations of experience, reinforced in dance and art, storytelling and decision-making, producing an intimate relationship with Country.

Pandanus Park Aboriginal Corporation is one of the Research partners in this Project. Language is a vital and intrinsic part of transferring knowledge withing the Community. Participants are using an interactive Computer Assisted language learning program for Nyikina.

As part of the Project, River Keepers are undertaking a Certificate III in Screen and Media, provided through Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education. They are then able to use these skills in recording and documenting activities on Country.

In the West Kimberley case study, the research process accesses elements of Aboriginal knowledge transfer which occurs through seasonal ‘everyday’ lived cultural experience on Country. Concepts of ecosystem health are held in traditional knowledge and language, and as Elders mentor younger researchers and young adult learners, they learn and record knowledges, and artistically present it for cultural and where appropriate, public purposes. River Keepers work in culture, conservation, and science roles, learning to map and document their care for the Martuwarra according to Warloongarriy (the Law of the River). Many people in this Martuwarra Fitzroy River group were involved in Boab Tree research, which continued into this Project.

The Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council (MFRC) is a key project research partner. It is an earth-centred regional governance cultural authority founded on the principles of the Fitzroy River Declaration. The MFRC is a federation of six (6) Indigenous nations with custodianship of 733 kilometres of their sacred Fitzroy River. Within the MFRC, the Martuwarra River Keepers are Traditional Custodians working on Country to research, manage and protect a globally unique River system. They are a group of Elders and young Indigenous leaders who will learn to map and document their care for the Martuwarra according to Warloongarriy (the Law of the River).

One significant benefit of this project to participants is the opportunity for training and development to apply their skills and knowledge to facilitation of workshops and talking circles.