Aboriginal Traditional Owners Research Articles

A seat at the table? Planning, meetings and the ‘stable relation’ of a joint managed National Park in northern Australia

Over the last fifteen years, most national parks in Cape York Peninsula, far north-east Australia, have been transferred to Aboriginal ownership and are now jointly managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the relevant Aboriginal traditional owner groups. The park in which this research was conducted has been jointly managed for just over a decade, but the transition to joint management is entwined with challenges related to the bringing together of different knowledge and management systems. The main forum for discussing and implementing change is in the mutual space of formal joint management meetings. However, this mutual space is not co-produced on equal terms. Joint management meetings and the production of management plans function as a way for Queensland Parks to fulfil their obligations to Aboriginal traditional owners while simultaneously reaffirming their status as the more powerful co-managing institution. Rather than fostering a space of indeterminacy, in which management partners could co-create new forms of managing and caring for land, meetings and management plans function to construct a ‘stable relation’ between Aboriginal traditional owners and Queensland Parks.

Yinbarnini Ngukunginyi (Singing of Water)

ABSTRACTExploratory fracking has commenced in the Beetaloo Basin, adjacent to Mudburra Country. At the time of writing, the Northern Territory Government is preparing to issue production licences to the gas companies involved. Environmental groups and some Aboriginal traditional owners, however, are insisting that the potential impact on land, water, pastoral operations, and Aboriginal communities has not been properly taken into account. Amongst other things, they point to the existence of stygofauna – tiny creatures that live in the underground water – which, though known to the traditional owners for millennia, are relatively new to western science. (It is likely that a word for stygofauna existed in the Mudburra language, but as far as we know it has not survived.) Research to establish environmental baselines prior to the commencement of fracking indicates that the stygofauna perform a vital function in purifying the underground water, and that they would be seriously threatened by fracking operations. As part of the protest movement against fracking, the authors have composed a song about stygofauna to be taught to the Mudburra children at Newcastle Waters School.

Forging Preferred Landscapes: Burning Regimes, Carbon Sequestration and ‘Natural’ Fire in Cape York, Far North Australia

ABSTRACT Fire management is a right and responsibility shared by all land managers in Cape York Peninsula, far north Australia, bringing together Aboriginal traditional owners, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers and settler-descended cattle graziers. The landscape of Northern Australia has been socialised by fire over millennia, resulting in a fire-adapted and fire-dependent landscape. While fire knowledge originated with Aboriginal traditional owners, decades of engagement in the multi-ethnic pastoral industry have resulted in contemporary burning practices that have been interculturally mediated. The Australian government’s carbon sequestration scheme has further transformed local burning practices, precipitating new forms of burning and new forms of critique. Through examining the burning practices and perspectives of Aboriginal traditional owners, Park rangers, and – in particular – cattle graziers, the ideological underpinnings of different fire regimes emerge. These insights disrupt some of the accepted wisdom around fire management and cultural burning in Australia.

The Fallacy of Year-Round Breeding in Polyphagous Tropical Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae): Evidence for a Seasonal Reproductive Arrestment in Bactrocera Species.

The genus Bactrocera (Diptera: Tephritidae) is endemic to the monsoonal rainforests of South-east Asia and the western Pacific where the larvae breed in ripe, fleshy fruits. While most Bactrocera remain rainforest restricted, species such as Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera tryoni are internationally significant pests of horticulture, being both highly invasive and highly polyphagous. Almost universally in the literature it is assumed that Bactrocera breed continuously if temperature and hosts are not limiting. However, despite that, these flies show distinct seasonality. If discussed, seasonality is generally attributed to the fruiting of a particular breeding host (almost invariably mango or guava), but the question appears not to have been asked why flies do not breed at other times of the year despite other hosts being available. Focusing initially on B. tryoni, for which more literature is available, we demonstrate that the seasonality exhibited by that species is closely correlated with the seasons of its endemic rainforest environment as recognised by traditional Aboriginal owners. Evidence suggests the presence of a seasonal reproductive arrest which helps the fly survive the first two-thirds of the dry season, when ripe fruits are scarce, followed by a rapid increase in breeding at the end of the dry season as humidity and the availability of ripe fruit increases. This seasonal phenology continues to be expressed in human-modified landscapes and, while suppressed, it also partially expresses in long-term cultures. We subsequently demonstrate that B. dorsalis, across both its endemic and invasive ranges, shows a very similar seasonality although reversed in the northern hemisphere. While high variability in the timing of B. dorsalis population peaks is exhibited across sites, a four-month period when flies are rare in traps (Dec-Mar) is highly consistent, as is the fact that nearly all sites only have one, generally very sharp, population peak per year. While literature to support or deny a reproductive arrest in B. dorsalis is not available, available data is clear that continuous breeding does not occur in this species and that there are seasonal differences in reproductive investment. Throughout the paper we reinforce the point that our argument for a complex reproductive physiology in Bactrocera is based on inductive reasoning and requires specific, hypothesis-testing experiments to confirm or deny, but we do believe there is ample evidence to prioritise such research. If it is found that species in the genus undergo a true reproductive diapause then there are very significant implications for within-field management, market access, and biosecurity risk planning which are discussed. Arguably the most important of these is that insects in diapause have greater stress resistance and cold tolerance, which could explain how tropical Bactrocera species have managed to successfully invade cool temperate regions.

Influence of western approach on housing policies and legislation leading to inadvertent institutional discriminatory practice against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Housing services in Australia have a foundation of a system developed by English Invaders and, as a result, have limited governing documentation and recommended practice, particularly in Queensland, to operate in a culturally sensitive manner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional owners. This article focuses on a social housing service and the analysis of legislation and social policy, policies and procedures, staff approaches and client perceptions to examine indirect discrimination towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians involved with housing services. Reflective analysis featuring a critical theory lens indicated a disconnect between legislation and social policy with experiences of clients and organisational approaches resulting in shame, feelings of unworthiness and disengagement from these services. Although Queensland housing legislation provides some governing principles protecting the cultural rights of consumers, organisational practice may not always meet this expectation due to ambiguity from industry leaders.

Concurrent 7. Presentation for: Biodiversity protection offsets in the Northern Territory – the Ichthys LNG story

Presented on Tuesday 17 May: Session 7 Protection of land and sea country in the Northern Territory (NT) for biodiversity offsets is difficult. Land tenure, competing management priorities and a lack of data mean securing land for conventional offsets, especially for long-term projects, is problematic for potential offset scenarios. Despite these challenges, the INPEX-led Ichthys Joint Venture is required to protect an area of land and sea country in the NT to offset the perceived impacts to the environment of the Ichthys LNG energy development. The requirement stems from the Commonwealth Government Approval EPBC 2008/4208 Conditions 11(b) and 11(c); and relates to the development of Ichthys LNG at Bladin Point and associated dredging activities. Numerous attempts have been made by INPEX, on behalf of its Ichthys Joint Venture participants, to meet these offset requirements, spanning a 10-year history and involving multiple stakeholders. Many lessons have been learnt along this journey, and this paper aims to shed light on INPEX’s attempts to find practical solutions to these challenges. Recently, the Commonwealth Government accepted a novel industry approach put forward by INPEX to work with Aboriginal Traditional Owners to protect and manage country for future generations. If successful, it is expected to deliver positive outcomes beyond the environment it protects. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here

Biodiversity protection offsets in the Northern Territory – the Ichthys LNG story

Protection of land and sea country in the Northern Territory (NT) for biodiversity offsets is difficult. Land tenure, competing management priorities and a lack of data mean securing land for conventional offsets, especially for long-term projects, is problematic for potential offset scenarios. Despite these challenges, the INPEX-led Ichthys Joint Venture is required to protect an area of land and sea country in the NT to offset the perceived impacts to the environment of the Ichthys LNG energy development. The requirement stems from the Commonwealth Government Approval EPBC 2008/4208 Conditions 11(b) and 11(c); and relates to the development of Ichthys LNG at Bladin Point and associated dredging activities. Numerous attempts have been made by INPEX, on behalf of its Ichthys Joint Venture participants, to meet these offset requirements, spanning a 10-year history and involving multiple stakeholders. Many lessons have been learnt along this journey, and this paper aims to shed light on INPEX’s attempts to find practical solutions to these challenges. Recently, the Commonwealth Government accepted a novel industry approach put forward by INPEX to work with Aboriginal Traditional Owners to protect and manage country for future generations. If successful, it is expected to deliver positive outcomes beyond the environment it protects.

Rehabilitation of the former nuclear test site at Maralinga

Large areas of the former British nuclear test site at Maralinga were contaminated by the explosive dispersal of plutonium. The Australian Government, in consultation with stakeholders, determined that the site should be cleaned-up so that it is fit for unrestricted habitation by the Aboriginal traditional owners (Maralinga Tjarutja). Engagement with the stakeholders, particularly the Maralinga Tjarutja, determined that the specific criterion for rehabilitation was 5 mSv y−1 and that some restrictions on permanent occupancy should remain. Remediation of the site began in 1995, took 5 years and cost AU$106 million. The site was returned to its traditional owners in 2009 and is now the site of a flourishing tourism operation.

Australian Pleistocene rock art.

Obtaining accurate dates for rock art is important to both archaeologists and Aboriginal Traditional Owners, but a lack of organic material associated with rock art can make this challenging. Using radiocarbon dating of mud wasp nests, Finch et al. show that naturalistic depictions of animals in the Kimberley region of northern Australia date to between 13,000 and 17,000 years ago.

Community research in a public place: Wangangarra 1 rockshelter, Mitchell River National Park, East Gippsland (Australia)

Southeastern Australia’s temperate East Gippsland region is a large and diverse landscape that spans from the Bass Strait coast to the Australian Alps. The region includes a number of national parks and reserves jointly managed by Aboriginal Traditional Owners, the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (the ‘Gunaikurnai Corporation’), and Parks Victoria. The Gunaikurnai Corporation recognises that archaeological research can be a fundamental tool in understanding relationships in past landscapes and managing places within Country. In 2017, the Gunaikurnai Corporation initiated a long-term collaborative study of Gunaikurnai Country with university-based scientists, with the management of Country through informed decision-making in mind. Here we present results from the first partnership research project in the Mitchell River National Park. A small-scale archaeological excavation of Wangangarra 1, a rockshelter that was not previously recognised to hold archaeological evidence, has revealed highly significant deposits spanning from before the Last Glacial Maximum to recent times, including evidence of occupation by the Old People. The results contribute to a better understanding of the Park as a cultural landscape, and demonstrate the success of respectful partnership research with local Indigenous groups as Traditional Owners.

What painting? Encountering and interpreting the archaeological record in western Arnhem Land, northern Australia

ABSTRACTResearch into contemporary Indigenous relationships with the archaeological record has increasingly drawn upon frameworks emphasising relational, affectual and cultural understandings to learn about the complex ways that meaning and symbolism are negotiated and expressed. In this paper, we use a series of case studies from Arnhem Land to investigate the network of relationships Aboriginal Traditional Owners use in the process of interpreting the archaeological record. At the core of this process is Edward Casey's idea of “grasping‐together”, where people draw on their social and cultural knowledge as a means to make sense out of what is being encountered and how it fits into existing frameworks of knowledge and understanding. By approaching rock art through the lens of encounter and interaction, archaeologists are in a privileged position to add another layer to the, symbolism and significance people attach to their cultural heritage today.

Mapping traditional ecological knowledge of Sea Country to understand biodiversity and areas of cultural importance

Understanding the values of traditional landowners is key to effective management of industrial developments. The Northern Territory (NT) coast and marine estate is host to significant oil and gas development, yet is relatively undisturbed and is rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage. Over 80% of the NT coastline is owned by Aboriginal Traditional Owners. There is an increasing push by Traditional Owners to formally recognise their connection to the marine environment and the deep traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) these strong connections cultivate. Documenting TEK provides an effective tool for communities to communicate with industry and government regarding ecologically and culturally important sites.

PUBLIC EXPOSURE TO EXTERNAL GAMMA RADIATION ON A MINE LANDFORM COVERED BY LOW URANIUM GRADE WASTE ROCK.

Public exposure to external gamma radiation on the waste-rock-covered-8.5-km2-planned final landform from rehabilitation of the Ranger uranium mine was assessed. The average above-background dose rate from external gamma radiation on the planned final landform was determined to be 6.0×10-3mSv d-1. This dose rate was one order of magnitude higher than that for inhalation of radon progeny and two orders of magnitude higher than that for inhalation of radionuclides in dust on the final landform. The above-background annual effective dose to the public from external gamma radiation when the envisioned land use by Aboriginal traditional owners was averaged over the entire 79km2 Ranger Project Area was about 4.1×10-2mSv. The results of this study may provide general guidance to sites elsewhere on the relative importance of the external gamma pathway and assist in the development or assessment of rehabilitation plans for uranium mining sites.

Understanding the spatial diversity of social uses, dynamics, and conflicts in marine spatial planning

Marine coastal environments are often socially complex public areas that need equitable spatial planning approaches. Understanding the extent of extractive and non-extractive uses and the social dynamics that may be driving patterns of use is essential if the spatial plan is to support the social resilience of a marine area. In this study, a combination of fuzzy-set multi-criteria GIS modelling and negative tie social network analysis were used to explore social uses and conflicts based on sketch-mapping interviews with five key stakeholder groups (ecotourism, Aboriginal Traditional Owners, commercial and recreational fishing, and water sports) within a Marine Protected Area (MPA). Most of the areas within the MPA were regularly used by the stakeholders, with non-extractive and extractive stakeholders occupying similar spatial extents, with each stakeholder group having a different pattern of use. However, stakeholder groups had different levels of perceived priority to access these areas and support of the current spatial management plan, especially within the ecotourism and Aboriginal Traditional Owner groups. The investigation of social conflicts in shaping patterns of use revealed that most stakeholder conflicts do not necessarily occur in areas of overlaps, but generally in areas of high biodiversity and easy access through marine infrastructure. Ecotourism groups had the most perceived conflicts over marine space, which shaped their use towards certain no-take zones that protected high biodiversity and would also provide protection from other conflicting stakeholder uses (e.g., boating, fishing). Overall, the method outlined in this paper presents a way for marine spatial management to consider not only the extent and diversity of social uses in a marine environment but also the spatial-social dynamics that may determine the success of the spatial plan in supporting long-term social resilience.

First nations rights and colonising practices by the nuclear industry: An Australian battleground for environmental justice

This paper highlights current events and original research to explore the tensions between First Nations, industry and government in the context of uranium mining and nuclear waste management in Australia. We outline challenges faced by Aboriginal Australians in their role as custodians of the land, and as community leaders. A critical examination of some of the barriers to First Nations empowerment includes government engagement through legislation and practices that have repeatedly resulted in dispossession and disempowerment of Australian Aboriginal Traditional Owners. Laws ostensibly designed to provide rights and protections to Aboriginal people are repeatedly curtailed or overridden to facilitate nuclear projects—in particular radioactive waste repositories and uranium mines. We argue that existing measures provide feeble rights and protections for Aboriginal people as laws have repeatedly produced outcomes that favour government and industry and deny Aboriginal rights to sovereignty. Our research highlights patterns of colonial oppression that transgress human rights, and frames mining and nuclear waste in a way that lacks a decolonisation strategy and are based on industrial violence. Theoretical understandings of Indigenous sovereignty through a decolonising lens will highlight Indigenous standpoints, the continued contestation of Indigenous peoples’ customary land rights, and the limitations of post-colonial environmental justice.

Looking beyond fishing: Conservation of keystone freshwater species to support a diversity of socio‐economic values

Abstract Keystone species can provide a focal point for designing conservation and management strategies that protect a diversity of social–ecological values in aquatic ecosystems; however, to avoid bias towards a subset of values associated with a single activity, such as fishing, stakeholder consultations must cover a spectrum of social perspectives. Using the Murray crayfish (Euastacus armatus) as a model, this study explored how Aboriginal Traditional Owners, landowners, tourism businesses, scientific researchers, non‐governmental organizations, and government agencies valued this threatened freshwater species across south‐east Australia. Qualitative methods revealed that E. armatus is a culturally significant species, targeted for fishing, but is also valued for a range of non‐extractive reasons that support social–ecological linkages between people and freshwater ecosystems. Perceived as an iconic species by most stakeholders, there was general support for E. armatus to be used as a flagship for conserving a spectrum of social–ecological values (e.g. Aboriginal Traditional Owner totem species), attached to their local freshwater ecosystems. Although stakeholders were conflicted over whether fishing should continue, four themes emerged on how to develop more equitable and effective conservation and management strategies: increased public education, co‐management with non‐government stakeholders, federal government co‐ordination, and spatial protection of critical areas. The protection of aquatic species in ways that support their full range of cultural, economic, and ecological values will require more bottom‐up (i.e. stakeholder‐led) approaches to conservation and management design. Broader stakeholder engagement and co‐management should reduce perceptions that local stakeholders are isolated from management processes, while increasing the capacity and confidence of managers to implement strategies that bolster both the social and ecological resilience of aquatic ecosystems.

Bark paintings conservation: Eucalyptus tetrodonta properties, bark harvesting and various mounting systems in the Northern Territory

In the past, various mounting systems have been developed with no real consensus on the most appropriate system to display bark paintings that also considers the cultural values of Aboriginal Traditional Owners. In addressing this gap, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) has been reviewing their current mounting systems and the preparation of bark supports with Injalak Arts to enable the development of evidence-based best practices for the display and preservation of bark paintings. A holistic study was undertaken to fully understand the life cycle of bark supports from when they are first made, to their display and collections trajectory in the cultural institution context. This paper examines Eucalyptus tetrodonata’s bark properties and harvesting techniques used by the Injalak Art Centre artists from the Aboriginal Traditional Owners’ perspective. With a holistic understanding of the material and cultural contexts, past display techniques were subsequently assessed which informed improvements of current bark painting mounting methods deployed at MAGNT. The purpose of this paper is not only to inform the development of appropriate mounting systems, but also to provide insight for the development of best practice decision-making and ‘proofed concepts’ of preventive conservation for the preservation and display of Aboriginal bark paintings.

Aboriginal cultural awareness training for mine employees: Good intentions, complicated outcomes

In the Australian context, training for employees to impart ‘cultural awareness’ concerning Indigenous people has recently become a common feature of workplace inductions within the mining industry. The training aims to foster good relationships between companies and Aboriginal Traditional Owners of land and increase Aboriginal employment within the industry by educating miners about ‘Aboriginal culture’. However, there have been few investigations focused on how the training is constructed, delivered, its content, or efficacy. This article presents an overview of how this training is being implemented at several major Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) mines in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The study finds that the corporate sector’s commitment to educating workers about cultural difference is difficult to achieve in this highly politicised setting. The paper argues for an understanding of the complexities and strategic politics involved in implementing Aboriginal cultural awareness training to avoid both naïve expectations and unintended negative consequences.

Creating multi-functional landscapes: Using exclusion fences to frame feral ungulate management preferences in remote Aboriginal-owned northern Australia

Invasive species can have negative and positive impacts for local communities. Conflict between these different values can complicate and sometimes prevent broad-scale management and decision-making. Multi-functional landscapes and community-based conservation paradigms have emerged as constructive approaches to integrating competing interests and the development of sustainable and locally meaningful management planning. Here, we report on a five year feral ungulate exclusion fence project that was used to focus local people's attention on the eco-cultural and socio-economic impacts of feral ungulate invasion in a remote Aboriginal-owned region of northern Australia. Exclusion of feral buffalo, horses and pigs from three culturally significant freshwater billabongs from 2009 to 2013 resulted in variable increases in smooth ground (from 64–93%), ground cover vegetation (from 18–95%) and water lily cover (bush food) (from 20–60%), dependent on the site. The reduction in feral animal ground surface damage in the fenced areas was fastest at the floodplain billabong, Nalawan, which took only a year to become negligible. At the two channel billabongs, Costello and Namaliwiri, feral animal damage was negligible after 3years. Senior Aboriginal Traditional Owners of these areas were pleased that these environmental assets were protected, but only agreed on the wholesale culling of pigs. Despite recognition of the negative eco-cultural impacts of feral ungulates as observed through the exclusion fence project, they wanted to maintain buffalo and horse on their Country to financially benefit from potential pet-meat and live export industries. Fencing was requested for culturally meaningful sites including those that were used for fishing and were sacred. Fenced areas were viewed by Traditional Owners as “protected” areas of ecological and cultural resources. These multiple management preferences can be combined to build socio-ecological resilience into regional strategic planning for feral ungulate management that will deliver multiple benefits for local communities.

The value of work and ‘common discourse’ in the joint management of Kakadu National Park

Joint management at Kakadu National Park has been marked by conflict and discontent among the major actors, its Traditional Aboriginal Owners and the White rangers (and other staff) of the state. Despite such conflict, and structured differences between these groups of actors, the park continues to function. In this article I argue that the structures and actions perpetuating difference and conflict are usually more or less balanced by opposing structures and actions that draw the two groups of actors together. I further argue that the most important of such cohering structures and actions, what I call ‘common discourse’, derives from the work that both Aboriginal and White rangers perform in the field. This form of under‐recognised discourse acts against the corrosive discourses of the separate groups that tend to perpetuate separateness.