Walking alongside First Nations to care for Country
There is much to celebrate in the growing capacity across the state for different points of view to come together to care for Country and work toward statewide landscape priorities. Here we tell the story in pictures of First Nations partnerships and collaborations that are helping to care for our land, water and nature.
Dunnart discovery at Yellabinna Wilderness Protection Area in remote South Australia - Alinytjara Wiluṟara
Working alongside First Nations people to care for Country is central to every working day at the Alinytjara Wiluṟara Landscape Board.
A survey team of Alinytjara Wiluṟara board staff and Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation rangers has confirmed the presence of the vulnerable sandhill dunnart in the area, 150km north of Ceduna, helping researchers better understand their range and preferred habitat.
Herbig Tree has more than one story – Northern and Yorke
The story of German emigrant Friedrich Herbig who lived in a hollowed out river redgum in Springton is famous in the Barossa Valley. In 1855, the 27-year-old dairy worker set up his home within the 6-metre wide tree that later also housed his bride Caroline and their first two children. What is less well-known is the story of the indigenous connection to the ancient tree, which is estimated to be up to 500 years old.
The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board's Aboriginal Engagement Committee (AEC) began discussions to recognise the gum's cultural significance to the area's traditional custodians, the Peramangk people.
Purple spotted gudgeon fly to new home in the Flinders Ranges – South Australian Arid Lands
Holding a tenuous grip on survival at only two springs in the Gammon Ranges, 600 purple spotted gudgeon were trapped and transported by helicopter to new homes in permanent springs in the central Flinders Ranges, doubling the known number of population sites of the species.
The involvement of traditional owners brings historical knowledge that, when added to the scientific testing results, places the translocation in the best position for success.
Aboriginal knowledge and values help conserve the swamps of the Fleurieu Peninsula – Hills and Fleurieu
The Fleurieu Swamps have cultural significance for the Warki, Ramindjeri and Ngarrindjeri people, who have worked with the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board to restore Aboriginal knowledge and values into the conservation and management of the swamps around Yundi.
The video shows how the project aims to understand and explain ecology as it was and is experienced by First Nations people from the eastern Fleurieu Peninsula and Lower Murray regions.
The First Nations partnerships project is supported by the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board through funding from the Australian Government's National Landcare Program.
Joining forces to care for coastal saltmarsh – Eyre Peninsula
Threatened ecological communities of temperate coastal saltmarsh have been a focus area for collaborative works between the EP Landscape Board and Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation Rangers. Working together, they have undertaken revegetation, profile surveys and marine debris clean-ups on this valuable coastal ecosystem.
Aboriginal communities convey what’s important to them and learn what’s important to the broader community – Northern and Yorke
Holding Aboriginal Engagement Committee meetings on Country is now the standard approach for the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board. This helps the committee to see the landscape through First Nations’ eyes, and share knowledge on caring for country.
River Murray and Mallee Ranger team working to care for country – Murraylands and Riverland
The rangers are involved in a range of activities including protecting culturally significant sites and species, wetland management, revegetation, pest plant and animal control, cultural and ecological research, community education, and supporting the transfer of knowledge between Elders and young people.
This program is a partnership between the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation, the Australian Landscape Trust and the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board.
More information
Contact our Aboriginal Partnerships Officer, Bill Wilson, to learn more about how we are working together with First Nations to care for land, water and nature, and what you can do to help.
Subscribe to get news from SA's nine landscape boards in one place, direct to your inbox.