First Nations engagement

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board acknowledges and respects the traditional owners of the ancestral lands of the region. We acknowledge elders past and present and we respect the deep feelings of attachment and relationship of Aboriginal peoples to country.

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board is working collaboratively with First Nations on the back of a sixteen year working relationship between South East Aboriginal Focus Group and the South East Natural Resources Management Board. The South East Aboriginal Focus Group has provided support and knowledge in relation to environmental planning and practical on-ground activities across the region since 2004. The Board is also collaborating with three other Landscape regions to work with Ngarrindjeri Community and their Native Title area in the upper part of the region.

To further enhance the respectful and strong relationship that has been developed with First Nations across the region the Board has embraced the Lartara-Wirkeri cultural governance framework developed with the South East Aboriginal Focus Group as a tool of working appropriately with all First Nations people to create change and explore opportunities within our organisation.

Walking Together Statement

The Walking Together Statement reflects the Limestone Coast Landscape Board's commitment to embedding First Nations knowledge into our work and providing opportunities to work together in sustainable landscape management. The statement reflects the South East Aboriginal Focus Group's Lartara-Wirkeri cultural governance framework which promotes best practice around cultural outcomes in caring for our regional landscapes.

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board commissioned an artwork to be used on the Walking Together Statement. Commissioned artist Marie Clarke, is a proud Wemba Wemba, Wergaia, Gunditjmara woman who was born at and lives in Bordertown, South Australia. Marie reconnected with her artistic background through her time spent producing the art piece. Marie describes the round canvas as displaying the flow on effect, the cycles of nature and life, the continuum of earth and universe, along with First Nations peoples' connection to the environment.

To view the Limestone Coast Landscape Board Walking Together Statement click here.

South East Aboriginal Focus Group and Lartara-Wirkeri Cultural Governance

The South East Aboriginal Focus Group meets regularly to apply their cultural knowledge to various environmental issues across the Limestone Coast region and also champion support for the Aboriginal managed lands.

In 2008 the Group began their journey to revive cultural governance framework as a way of securing ownership of culture in a highly modified landscape. Lartara-Wirkeri translates to sticks-three and is a contemporary application of the ancient form of communication and organisation. The three sticks represent different stages of engagement to process. Song & Dance (We will celebrate when…), Ceremony & Talk (Plan together…) and Hunt & Gather (Do Together…). The framework respects ancestors and uses cultural symbology to promote First Nation autonomy.

In 2015 the Lartara-Wirkeri Cultural Governance framework developed into a cultural governance agreement between the South East Aboriginal Focus Group and Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation. This agreement maps out a working relationship where the South East Aboriginal Focus Group provide the cultural knowledge in decision making for their projects and Burrandies provide the business delivery mechanism to undertake fee for service works and program delivery.

To find out more about Burrandies Cultural Connections visit their facebook page -https://www.facebook.com/burrandies/

Yarning the South East Seasons

This project connects land holders with the South East Aboriginal Focus Group representatives and the Limestone Coast Landscape Board staff where they can share stories and knowledge about land use and management. Whilst, respecting and protecting cultural heritage.

Check out the clip below to find out more information about the Yarning the South East Season's project.

Partnering across the state

Nine landscape boards have made a strong commitment to reconciliation and to strengthening partnerships with First Nations across the state by signing Landscape SA’s historic “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statement of Commitment”.

To view the state-wide statement of commitment please click here