Country, Culture, Futures. Inside This Issue VOL. 04. Land Management Update. July A biannual newsletter of Central Desert Land and Community.

Transcription

1 Land Management Update July 2014 Country, Culture, Futures. VOL. 04 A biannual newsletter of Central Desert Land and Community. Inside This Issue 2. Preface from Fred Chaney 3. Kiwirrkurra 5. East Birriliburu 6. Women ranger update 7. Yamada Campsite Build 8. Archaeology at Katjarra 9. Certificate Three Training in CALM 10. National Native Title Conference 11. Protecting Windich Springs 12. Recovering Biodiversity on Jundee 13. Wiluna Shed and news from the office

2 Preface from Fred Chaney Senior Australian of the Year Fred Chaney has spent numerous years working in Indigenous communities and has seen what works ranger programs Photo / Brendan J Doyle I have worked at the very centre of government as a minister with the federal government, and, in contrast, literally as far as possible from power centres, with Indigenous Australians in the outback. One of my formal roles at present is as a board member of Central Desert Native Title Services. To say there are challenges in the way we include Indigenous Australians in the society we have built is an understatement, but it is vital that we understand what is working and build on it. One initiative in particular that is under-recognised gives me great cause for optimism. It is the growing employment of Indigenous rangers on Aboriginal lands, including in Indigenous Protected Areas. These programs help protect our vast and priceless natural heritage, while providing jobs and social benefits for remote communities. They are a shining example of local empowerment and initiative coupled with well-tailored and thoughtful government investment. The Coalition can be proud that these initiatives started under Coalition governments that were early to recognise and support the inspiring grassroots efforts of local Indigenous people in trying to manage their traditional estates by tackling environmental degradation. This began under John Howard, continued under the Rudd and Gillard governments, is continuing under Tony Abbott, and should continue to grow. From firsthand experience, I can say these programs are worldleading Indigenous partnerships that are transforming the lives of Indigenous people across our country. Managing fire and controlling feral animals and invasive weeds are critical to the health of our enormous outback regions. These programs are world-leading Indigenous partnerships. In the West Australian central desert, where I have direct involvement, I see Aboriginal men and women, old and young, grow in pride and confidence when they gain jobs working on their ancestral lands. This story is replicated in the hundreds of Indigenous rangers employed across the millions of hectares now under active management in Indigenous Protected Areas. The core support the federal government brings to these programs is absolutely vital. I have seen the changes with my own eyes. Pride in a hard day's work; reductions in substance abuse and domestic violence; children who want to be rangers being more engaged and attentive at school; rangers providing for their families and protecting our heritage for the benefit of us all. Rangers contracted to mines and to state government environmental agencies are proof that these are real jobs. We must not let this renaissance fade. There are many millions of hectares of land and sea that need management, and much demand for jobs in remote Australia. A wise government invests in the capacity of its citizens or risks spending ever more money on the symptoms of failure more jails, police and hospitals. We can get this significant element of Indigenous policy right in Australia if we stay on course. Indigenous rangers and Indigenous Protected Areas are a federal government investment that is paying off for all Australians. It s time to grow that investment. Read more: digenous-rangers-an-initiative-worth- nurturing zsin8.html#ixzz36mtxvvww 2

3 Kiwirrkurra IPA goes live At the recent Tjamu Tjamu Aboriginal Corporation meeting in May, Kiwirrkurra native title holders formally agreed to declare their country an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA). In the management plan for the IPA, they say: We are Kiwirrkurra traditional owners. We are the native title holders of Kiwirrkurra country. It is ngurra walytja, our home, created and sustained by the Tjukurrpa (dreaming). We have been looking after country for thousands of years, and we still do so today. Being on our country, maintaining that relationship and following the tjukurrpa helps keep country, culture and people strong. A ceremony to launch the Kiwirrkurra IPA will be held on country at Wala Wala on September 10 th this year. Traditional owners and government people will shake hands and sign an agreement, showing that they plan to work together for this IPA. It should be a really fun celebration! Ninu, Tjalapa and Murrtja and Pussycat In May, Kate came out with Rachel Paltridge (biologist) to work with the Kiwirrkurra people on looking for Ninu (Bilby), Tjalapa (Great Desert Skink) and Murrtja (Mulgara). The government is worried about these animals, because there are not so many of them now they are worried they might finish up. It was great to find so many burrows, tracks and scats of these animals around Kiwirrkurra. Rachel said that Kiwirrkurra people are doing a great job of looking after their country, to keep these animals safe. People are burning country the right way, and catching lots of feral cats. With the IPA, we can help people look after all their country, not just close to the community. Soakage cleaning with the school In June, the senior class at Kiwirrkurra School joined in a trip to clean up some soakages. At Nyaminyi, we saw there were lots of weeds (buffel grass and Mossman River grass), so everyone did a great job of digging out these weeds and burning them. John T and the school group dug out a really deep hole to get to fresh water at the bottom of the soakage. We also went to Ngaatjapriitja soakage, which was a bit hard to find on the edge of a sandhill, and to Tipun soakage which is located by a rocky outcrop. The school group did a great job of digging out both these soakages. Next time we will bring some equipment to measure the water quality and see how good it is for drinking. New IPA office in Kiwirrkurra Lindsey, Rob and Kate have been busy turning an old donga into a brand new IPA office! Well, Lindsey and Rob did all the hard work, and Kate did lots of painting. The new Kiwirrkurra IPA logo. Nolia holding a Great Desert Skink. Photo / Kate Crossing 3

4 Kiwirrkurra photos The senior class from the Kiwirrkurra School cleaning out soakages on their field trip. Photo / Kate Crossing Rachel and Walimpirri looking at Ninu (Bilby) scat to see what it has been eating. Photo / Kate Crossing Rob and the Kiwirrkurra traditional owners discussing the IPA at Wala Wala. Photo / Kate Crossing 4

5 East Birriliburu Trip We also got to catch up with Ivan and the other Martu fellas who were mapping and harvesting At the end of June, Ululla Boss sandalwood around Mungilli. They and Miparl led a rangers trip out said that they have seen plenty of to Ulalla Boss country in the east fresh Marntangarlku signs around of the Birriliburu Indigenous the area, which is good news. Protected Area (IPA). In addition to Another trip to follow up these providing an opportunity for some sightings will be organized in the of the rangers to visit and learn future. about this part of country for the first time, it was also an Special thanks to Ululla and Miparl opportunity to do some for leading the trip, to Mo and threatened-species mapping and Emma for organising the trip, and to see and talk about tasks and to Sniper, Zareth, Luke, Justin, projects for the rangers to do over Caroline, Meredith, Selina, the coming year or so. Rebecca and Alana for your great contributions. Along the way, we visited and mapped a number of rockholes that need to be cleaned out to keep the water healthy for the animals, found and mapped a new location showing fresh Marntangarlku (Bilby) activity, investigated sites for installing hand pumps and water tanks to provide drinking water to keep people safe whilst working and travelling through the country, and completed patch burning and feral camel control. We also encountered a tourist vehicle that was travelling along Eagle Highway without approval, which provided an opportunity to talk about managing visitors in this part of the world. Apart from the risk of visitors going to places that are culturally sensitive, those on the trip talked about the risk involved in completing feral animal control or conducting patch burns if they don t know that other people are there. This is why signs have been put up asking people not to enter these private tracks. Alana pointing to a fresh Bilby burrow Photo / Rob Thomas Birriliburu IPA logo The group standing at Karri Ngarri Claypan in East Birriliburu. Photo / Emma Drake 5

6 Posing after a hard days work building a new campsite at Yamada. Photo / Ben Blomfield Yamada Campsite Construction Track Care and Birriliburu Rangers After the successful completion of the Goodcamp Rangers campsite in October 2013, which was supported by Telstra s Paying It Forward program, Birriliburu Rangers and Track Care WA Volunteers returned to Katjarra in June 2014 to construct an additional campsite at Yamada. This was generously funded through a State NRM grant. The campsite consisted of similar infrastructure to the Goodcamp campsite with a tank shed and two tanks, a toilet, two BBQ s and two picnic tables nestled into the trees in a clearing. Although the digging was very hard, the team of six Birriliburu Rangers and 23 TCWA Volunteers completed the installation and then enjoyed a couple of days visiting the magnificent surroundings. The toilets at Goodcamp and Yamada will need regular servicing at least twice per year, along with other toilets at Well 3, Windich Springs, Pierre Springs, and Well 12 campsites. This will form part of the Birriliburu Rangers regular schedule of works.track Care is proud to partner with Central Desert and the Birriliburu Rangers on such great projects. The second part of the State NRM Grant includes the construction of another campsite at Mungkalu in August The fabrication of some components has commenced already Ben Blomfield in order to hopefully be delivered Track care WA Inc during a reconnaissance visit there in CSR Coordinator October This will relieve some of the pressure on the trailers transporting steel for the project next year. The campsite at Mungkalu will enable Birriliburu Rangers to complete vital biodiversity management in the area. 6

7 The Women s Ranger Team has had a cracking first half of the year with several trips and meetings held. Some highlights were: First Aid and Chemical Training Four women completed their Senior First Aid and Weeds/Chemical training at the inaugural multi-regional ranger training camp held at Credo Station. As well as the contingent of rangers from Wiluna and Birriliburu, there were rangers from Spinifex, Ngadju and Goldfields. This week was a great opportunity to learn some new skills to enhance employment, as well as form connections between groups and talk to other Indigenous rangers about land management work. School Kids Camp Eight senior girls from the Wiluna Remote Community School participated in a bushrangers camp at Matuwa. The Women s Ranger Team spent time with the children talking about the importance of biodiversity and performing land management activities. The schoolgirls were engaged in activities such as bird watching and identification, recognizing animal tracks and visiting the predator-proof native animal enclosure to learn about the re-introduction program that is taking place there. A special thanks goes out to ICEA volunteer s Kate and Kimba who came along and helped out as facilitators and shared their stories of working with Indigenous youth. Flora at Katjarra The Birriliburu ranger teams worked with the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) on the final flora survey of the area in May. Most of the flora around Katjarra has now been catalogued, with over 500 species identified and lodged with the Western Australian herbarium. To ensure that the flora population of the area is well understood, the Birriliburu rangers worked with DPaW staff to set up a series of vegetation monitoring plots. We also partnered with the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network to implement the nationally recognized method of AusPlots. These are being used to collect data on species diversity, condition and change over time. The Women Ranger Team, with the help of Bush Heritage ecologist Vanessa Westcott, have started a project to record Martu names and uses for bush tucker and medicine plants that can be found throughout Birriliburu and Wiluna country. The rangers practicing their First Aid in a scenario. Photo / Emma Drake The rangers recording Martu names whilst collecting plants on top of a sand dune at Katjarra. Photo / Emma Drake 7

8 Birriliburu Rangers and UWA Archaeologists working together at Katjarra. Photo / Mo Pawero University of WA Archaeology work In May, the University of Western Australia School of Rock Art team travelled to Katjarra to perform an archaeological survey of two important occupation sites in the range. On previous surveys, Archaeologists Peter Veth and Jo McDonald had estimated that evidence of occupation dates as early as 30,000 BP may be established. The Birriliburu Rangers travelled to Katjarra to take part in the archaeological dig. Both teams got to know each other slowly as the archaeologists demonstrated their techniques and tools used for their work. The rangers, led by elders, spent time with the younger archaeologists and talked about the importance of Katjarra to the Putijarra people, who are the traditional owners of the area. Importantly, as the digs progressed at both sites, the rangers and archaeologists shared in the experience of looking through time and coming to a mutual appreciation of just how important Katjarra has been as a place of refuge and home to the people of the desert. Archaeologists Peter Veth and Jo McDonald have estimated that evidence of occupation could date to 30,000 BP 8

9 Some of the rangers undertaking their Cert 3 at Matuwa, along with elder Timmy and Tanya from BCA. Photo / Mo Pawero Certificate 3 training in CALM with BCA National Tanya Beech, conservation and land management assessor from BCA National travelled to Wiluna to assess ten Wiluna/Birriliburu Rangers in Certificate 3 in Conservation and Land Management (CALM). Tanya accompanied the rangers out on site over two weeks and completed on the job training and assessment of core environmental management competencies. The first week Tanya travelled with Barry and his team who were working on erosion control and fire management on the Jundee lease. The second week was held out at Matuwa and Tanya assessed the rangers for a variety of skills and competencies relating to fire management planning, implementation and data collection. As a result of the two week on the job training there are ten rangers on course to completing their Cert 3 this calendar year: 1. Ivan Wongawol (currently holds Cert 2) 2. Bradley Wongawol (currently holds Cert 2) 3. Delston Ashwin (currently holds Cert 2) 4. Zareth Long (currently holds Cert 2) 5. Richard Narrier (currently holds Cert 2) 6. Ben Brown 7. Renay Jackman 8. Nathaniel Wongawol 9. Kris Bingham 10. Grant Bingham Tanya was very impressed with the rangers skills, knowledge and professional application. 9

10 National Native Title Conference In June, Victor, Lindsey and Rob presented at the National Native Title Conference in Coffs Harbour. The presentation was titled Native Title, What Native Title? and focused on a co-management project at Matuwa (Lorna Glen) and Kurrara Kurrara (Earaheedy). Ian Kealley (Goldfields Regional Manager, Department of Parks and Wildlife) co-presented, and took the audience on a journey through the acquisition of the former pastoral leases by the State, investment by the Australian Government s Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) programme to today, where an IPA country management plan will form the foundation of a formal agreement between the State and the Wiluna native title holders. Along the way, the presenters talked about the importance of Matuwa and Kurrara Kurrara, not only as an environmental asset but also its significance to the Wiluna native holders as a major regional cultural, historic, economic and educational asset and about the various decisions that have been made throughout the 14-year relationship between the Wiluna native title holders and the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW). Those decisions include entering into a Memorandum of Understanding and establishing a co-management working group in 2004, the joint construction of a shed tank and information sign at Sydney Heads on Kurrara Kurrara in 2008, securing external funding (Wiluna Regional Partnership Agreement) for the development of a Wiluna ranger programme in 2009, building of the Martu-ku Ngurra camp ground on Matuwa in 2010, securing IPA funding to progress a co-management plan in 2011 and establishing a formal feefor-service contract for rangers in The year 2014 will mark another significant milestone with the dedication of an IPA over both properties later in the year. The presentation touched on a number of challenges along the journey, including some fork in the road points where the Wiluna claimants (as they were at the time) had to decide whether to stop all onground engagement in favour of pursuing their strict legal and native title rights or to continue to work with DPaW. At these times, the Wiluna claimants chose to get on with business and focus on activities that were mutually beneficial, leaving the question of legal and determined native title to catch up or come together later on. In the meantime, DPaW has affirmed its commitment to a formal comanagement agreement with the Wiluna native title holders. A big thank you to Ian for his strong support for the co-management project over the years and for copresenting at the conference. The room was packed, and rarely does the native title conference hear from a representative from the State! The added bonus was that we also got to present alongside the Wiluna Regional Partnership Agreement mob (Regina, Maggie and Vera) and hear about the great work that they have done on the Martu employment survey and subsequent projects like the big license and identification day in Wiluna. These have been great Martu-driven initiatives that will make a big difference to local employment prospects for Martu. Well done, you mob! The year 2014 will mark another significant milestone with the dedication of an IPA over both properties later in the year. 10

11 Protecting the natural and cultural values of Windich Spring In late March, a team of Wiluna Rangers teamed up with Trackcare WA and Cunyu Station owner Ken Shaw to manage erosion and feral animal pressure at Well 4B on the Canning Stock Route. This work was completed due to concerns over the impact of erosion and feral animal grazing pressure in the Windich Springs catchment, an important natural and cultural wetland. 5 km of electrified fencing was constructed and a series of erosion bunds installed at a flood-out in the upper catchment of Windich springs. The bunds and scrub fences aim to slow water down, trap soil, nutrient and seed and spread water across the floodplain and onto surrounding country rather than down the catchment channel. The fencing completed around a semi-permanent pool will prevent feral animals getting a free drink, forcing them onto Cunyu s trap-yard water point system, where they can be managed. Photo monitoring points were set up to compare change over time. The work was hot and hard, but highly rewarding. The Wiluna rangers enjoyed the opportunity of working with our partners Trackcare on another great project, as well as working with Ken for the first time. Another good example of working together for shared value. This project was supported by a WA State NRM Grant. The different partners talking about erosion control work at Windich Springs. Photo / Hamish Morgan 11

12 Some of the women who have been involved in the biodiversity project over 2013/2014. Photo / Emma Drake Recovering Biodiversity on Jundee Wiluna Women Rangers For the past year and half, the women of Wiluna have been engaged in a project to provide environmental services that will support the recovery of the Jundee pastoral lease. Jundee is currently owned by Northern Star mining company, having recently been purchased from Newmont. Over the past decade, the total grazing pressure at Jundee has been significantly relieved and the landscape is in various stages of recovery. Of note are the relatively intact interzonal sand-dune, drainage and mulga habitats. These areas have been surveyed by the Wiluna women for presence/absence of threatened species and feral predators. The success of engaging the women of Wiluna in threatened species work is based on the strong knowledge of elders about the habitats and behaviour of desert fauna. The Wiluna women have well-developed tracking skills and take seriously their role as conduits of ecological information. A wider plan is currently being developed for neighboring properties abutting Jundee based on the success of this project. Specifically, the work and research being carried out by Indigenous rangers at Lorna Glen ex pastoral lease and the Birriliburu Indigenous Protected Area is being linked to Jundee space through a multiproperty threatened species monitoring plan. This monitoring plan will see the women rangers providing a vital service in collecting information on populations of threatened species in three similar areas that are being managed using a variety of predator control methods. This project has been generously supported by Rangelands NRM WA and Northern Star Mining. 12

13 The Wiluna Land and Community Resource Centre Nearing completion, a grand opening is planned for later this year. Recent landscaping and pedestrian and car-park gates have been installed, along with signage to acknowledge sponsors; Lottery West, Royalties for Regions and Midwest Development Commission. A native garden is being planned for the area surrounding the facility and will provide an opportunity for the rangers to put their skills to good use in a town setting for a change. In the coming months, the community facility will be set up with Internet and computers. The computer will house an archive of hundreds of photos and videos of Martu people from Wiluna that have been taken over the many years of working together with Central Desert. We hope you can join us at the opening and perhaps plant a tree with us to celebrate. A date will be advised, we look forward to seeing you there. Putting the finishes touches on, our new signs. Photo / Barry Hooper The rangers installing gates around the Wiluna Land and Community Resource Centre. Photo / Barry Hooper From the office Alissa s role at Central Desert. With the team, I ve been establishing new systems for managing our projects, grants and reporting commitments, finances and logistics. The aim is for this to help us stay effective and efficient as we continue to grow. In this role I get to make it my business to know everything that Land & Community is up to. On any day I could be writing budgets, booking travel, organising pays for rangers, helping staff in the field, liaising with Central Desert Native Title Services, assisting in coordinating projects and answering any of the many questions that get directed my way. I work with our staff, traditional owners and our partners as a central contact point for the team. It s extremely busy back in the office while we continue this dynamic process. The last year has seen big changes in the way Land & Community are doing business. As a team and business unit, you could say we ve grown up a lot! We re managing different types of work, making new and exciting partnerships and seeing more and more rangers taking the lead in the field. This has meant needing to adapt to how we operate. My job as our Systems Coordinator has been to work at professionalising our processes so we re operating nice and smoothly, both with our partners and with everyone working in the field. 13

14 Check out Central Desert Land and Community landandcommunitycentraldesert.org.au You will find links to video, newspaper articles and radio interviews as well as many photos from the numerous trips and work that we have conducted this year. If you would like a copy of our new prospectus Building Desert Economies, please contact the Land and Community team by reception@centraldesert.org.au Contact Us Address 76 Wittenoom Street Perth WA 6004 Phone (08) Fax (08) FreeCall For enquiries please contact: reception@centraldesert.org.au