Guest User

October 14, 2020

updates, connections

How Indigenous knowledge can help Australia build resilience to climate change

Guest User

October 14, 2020

updates, connections

Photo courtesy of Inkline

‘In Western Australia’s remote northern region of The Kimberley, Indigenous seasonal and ecological knowledge is playing a crucial role in building resilience to climate change.’

“In May, the barramundi used to swim upstream but now, there are none to be seen. Octopi that once turned green to announce the coming spring now remain blue. The low humdrum buzz of the dragonfly indicates the salmon will be biting. Yet every year, the dragonflies are appearing later in the seasons.”

“For Anne Dwyer, a Karrajarri woman and traditional land owner, these occurrences are sure signs of climate change. Dwyer, who works with western scientists to combine Indigenous knowledge and customary practices, uses this combination as complimentary science to mitigate climate issues in remote areas of The Kimberly in Western Australia.”

“In the neighbouring Indigenous nation, Dr. Anne Poelina, a woman of Martuwarra and a traditional land owner, also tirelessly advocates for the Martuwarra River Country. Together, they are ‘Caring for Country,’ a phrase used for the traditional management of land and sea by Indigenous Australians.”

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May 21, 2020

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Meet Dr. Anne Poelina: The Nyikina Traditional Custodian Advocating For Economic Sustainability

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May 21, 2020

updates, connections

Screenshot: Martuwarra Fitzroy River website.

By Danielle Schmidt

I don’t think “idle hands” or “idle mind” are in Dr. Anne Poelina's vocabulary. Wielding a Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Master of Education, Master of Arts, PhD in Philosophy and completing a second PhD (Health Science), she is a force to be reckoned with. It feels like she constantly is working on something, wearing so many different hats at a single time, but when I mentioned this to her, she simply replied “I do what I do, it is my destiny.” After hearing her story, you realize it truly is.

Life in the Kimberley

Dr. Poelina grew up in the Kimberly region of Western Australia as “ngajanoo Yimardoowarra marnin”, which, translated from the Nyikina language, means “a woman who belongs to the Martuwarra (Fitzroy River).” Generations of her family have dedicated themselves to the pastoral industry, “overseeing and managing other Aboriginal people who were involved in shepherding, mustering, shearing, wool-scouring, cooking, housework, carting, blacksmithing, pit-sawing, and fencing”. She said it was during this upbringing when she learned about generations of her family being enslaved, dispossessed, deported, and murdered.

“My memories are etched in the stories of how my family became part of the workforce vital to run those stations,” she explained. “But when those enslaved to work demanded equal wages, they were driven out to local towns and cast away from our River Country. With unemployment rife in the towns in the late 1960s and 1970s, some took the opportunity to work on development schemes, such as the Camballin irrigation project, or for the Agricultural Protection Board.”

But still, her people suffered. “They witnessed the failures of poorly designed development schemes, or worse, became victims of unconscionable work practices which saw many Aboriginal men die or suffer ongoing, intergenerational health issues.” Today, the community struggles with cattle industry leaders looking to harvest water from the Fitzroy river.

Martuwarra and Green Economies

So it’s no surprise that she, along with others of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council, took part in workshopping and reviewing Professor Jeff Connor’s 2019 report Environmental, cultural and social capital as a core asset for the Martuwarra (Fitzroy River) and its people, in conjunction with the Pew Charitable Trust, and reviewed by external experts and contributors. It focuses on the Kimberly region and makes two essential arguments: local irrigation projects are not as profitable as one might believe, and that focusing on Aboriginal-led projects already in place actually have higher returns in investments and regional job growth. It also explores the added eco-benefits of Aboriginal-led enterprises (such as carbon farming, food production, tourism, traditional medicine, education, and arts & culture) over unsuccessful irrigation ones.

Using the report, and in collaboration with national and international experts, Dr. Poelina continues to advocate for green industries by publishing papers, keynoting presentations at conferences, and producing plays, songs and ceremonies highlighting her people’s experiences and stories. She and other Traditional Custodians are also currently working to have the Fitzroy River, which was listed as an Australian National Heritage site in 2011, inducted as a World Heritage site.

In 2016, the six Traditional Owner nations signed the Fitzroy River Declaration, vowing to work together to protect the region. “It is globally unique and belongs to all of us to share,” she exclaimed. They are also utilizing social media and the internet to propel their advocacy further by launching a website and running a Facebook page, which allies can go to in the meantime.

So how can people use this report to advocate for greener jobs in their own community?

Dr. Poelina suggested engaging with Indigenous people, no matter where one lives and works. “It is my belief that when we share our world views and wisdom, we can begin to deal with the complexity of climate chaos, and recognise the sacredness of our nation. We all need to work collaboratively to right size our nation and planet, and sustain humanity and rights of nature to thrive now and into the future.”

She explained good governance is also key. “Our work must combine multiple sciences, diverse cultures, and arts. We need to find ways to work together to transition from the old economies to the new, which we are framing as the ‘forever industries’ (culture and science economies, renewable energy as obtainable ‘Green Economies’).”

And morality comes into play too. “The notion of the ‘greater good’ needs to be expanded to include Australia’s original people, as Traditional Owners of these resources who continue to manage our diverse estates, and have done so since the beginning of time.”

It’s worth noting that many indigenous communities around the globe have been tracking climate change for thousands of years through storytelling. According to Smithsonian Magazine, one Aboriginal community has a story which describes a time when northeastern Australia’s shoreline reached all the way to the Great Barrier Reef, and a river flowed into the sea at what is now Fitzroy Island. Researchers have proven that these stories, which have been passed down through oral storytelling, art, song and dance, match up to ecological events noted by scientists.

Due to Indigenous groups’ special relationship with the earth, many have expressed the importance of protecting indigenous communities globally. And as news concerning environmental issues like climate change increases, it’s becoming clear that the world at large needs to support indigenous conservation projects for widespread well-being.

Words for the future

Yet sadly, it still feels like environmentalists face obstacles everyday. I asked Dr. Poelina how she manages to not get discouraged, and her words of wisdom were full of inspiration:

“I am born into this role...I exist in a world of complexity, changing rules/laws, policies, systemic racism, structural violence, invasive and exploitative investment and development,” she continued. “Against this is the backdrop, the elephant in the room: climate change. This global phenomenon brought on by greed and destruction is spiralling towards climate chaos, and we have a moment in our time to give our planet and humanity and climate a chance.”

You can also follow Dr. Anne Poelina’s work here.

Danielle Schmidt is a California-based film producer and freelance writer passionate about increasing climate literacy and its coverage in the media. She is a past recipient of the Center for Asian American Media’s Student Film Award, and has worked in the TV/Film industry for over eight years. She is currently developing a documentary following eight different walks of life navigating the climate movement during this heightened era.

Guest User

December 7, 2011

media

Native Title An Act Too Hard to Follow

Guest User

December 7, 2011

media

Written by Anne Poelina

First published in the National Indigenous Times (NIT) - December 7, 2011 - Opinion, page 27

My social, cultural, political journey has revealed flaws in Native Title law which leave Aboriginal people and the environment vulnerable to genocide and ecocide.

I have learnt that the colonial ethos is entrenched in the laws, policies and practices of governments, corporations and Indigenous representative bodies which impose development over Traditional Owners who do not have free, prior or informed consent.

My recent experience on country demonstrated how the rights of senior law and cultural bosses were ignored, reducing their right to participate in Native Title decision making. I saw first hand how the votes were rigged against Aboriginal people with rights and interest in their own lands becoming quickly, disenfranchised. Federal law and the deficit public policy approach to Indigenous development are aimed at reducing the human rights of Aboriginal Australians.

The national and international evidence regarding the construction and maintenance of Indigenous disadvantage by Australian state and territory governments is overwhelming. The Australian Government has the powers to make laws to promote Indigenous interests and reduce Indigenous disadvantage. It has failed its constitutional duty.

The Kimberley is unique; worthy of responsible management. Despite partial National Heritage Listing a couple of months ago there are serious questions hanging over development in the Kimberley. The science is in, the resource extraction, processing and transport planned for the Kimberley would have significant negative impacts on the environment, the people, plants and animals if it were allowed to proceed.

Recently at the National Press Club Alan Jones illuminated the collective concern people right around Australia share in regards to the damage resource extraction, processing and transport, particularly coal seam gas is having on established and potential industries. Mr Jones makes the argument for farmers to have the right to ‘lock the gate’ which is effectively the same as Aboriginal peoples call for the right to ‘veto’ mining on their land. There is a common need to protect our water, food and job security into the future.

The opportunity to coexist and co-manage with pastoralist, graziers and agriculturalist has not been seriously considered. There are far more Indigenous jobs in the culture and conservation green collar industries such as wild harvest bush foods and medicine, land care, rangers and tourism these enterprises require serious investment as they are more sustainable and produce greater national ecosystem services, social and cultural benefits than mining.

The current worldwide financial crisis demonstrates the rampant pursuit of growth and globalisation has greatly improved the lives of a few wealthy investors at the expense of other lives, mainly Indigenous people from around the world.

"...The largest and most aggressive resource development companies in the world are based in Australia and they are responsible for the majority of environmental catastrophes around the world. The Australian Government is allowing these same corporations to invade, occupy and destroy Aboriginal land, water and people."

Many Aboriginal people are not aware of their rights under United Nations conventions which say they can never be forced to trade their country for basic human rights like health, education and housing and have an absolute right to say no to such deals. Instead, they are being told they have no choice.

The Native Title Act 1993 provides no security for Aboriginal people to protect their land, health, culture and sustainable economic development.

The first thing Traditional Owners are told in mining negotiations from our native title representative body is, “you have no ‘veto’ so you can’t say no, so start negotiating”. The process has steered Aboriginal people down the funnel without any genuine opportunity to discuss the issues regarding the pro and cons associated with mining. Mining deals are being pushed onto Aboriginal people who are forced to make decisions without free, prior and informed consent.

"...I have clear evidence of instructions from Traditional Owner clients being ignored by a Native Title representative body. Furthermore, Elders who cannot read and right are being coerced into signing agreements."

Traditional Owners have an absolute right and responsibility to protect our ancestral lands and waters. Government policies are forcing us to move away from our traditional homelands and make it look like nobody cares about the country, to further entrench the myth that the land is empty.

Dr Anne Poelina talking with the gathering at the Walmadany Camp at its official opening of the Tent Embassy in September 2011. Image: Damian Kelly

We have a duty of care to look after the environment. Who talks for the river, who talks for the fish and the animals? It is our job to do the right thing now for current and future generations of all Australians.

We have a shared heritage and we need to look after this country, as Lucy Marshall OAM says “shoulder to shoulder, black and white together”.

There are so many serious challenges for Aboriginal people yet federal and state/ territory governments continually fail to look beyond their own selfish interests.

The Council Of Australian Government has failed to deliver meaning outcomes because the only things governments appear to do is focus on is mining and bullying us into giving up the last of our identity and freedom.

Every which way you look at it the governments are bullying us into mining. All the rules, all the laws, all the policies; are designed to take our rights away and force us into dangerous short term mining ventures which have produced limited changes to indicators of wellness and wealth.

All levels of government are working as direct partners with these multinational companies to send the majority of our wealth overseas. According to Senator Bob Brown 83% of the resource profit goes to international investors. These profits are derived from the destruction of our food and job security, lands and waters all of which is eroding our human rights as Australians to economic participation and personal and community well being.

There are hundreds of millions of government dollars going into mining development and the best Aboriginal people can do is to negotiate for some crumbs from a mining deal.

Surely as 2011 draws to a close, we can come up with an equitable way of sharing these resources between all of the partners and be proud of world’s better practice, with a win-win for the environment, corporate sector, governments and not least of all Traditional Owners.

We have not been given any alternatives to mining in order to improve our local economy. The federal economic policy around Native Tile is “get a mine and close the gap”.

I am not against resource development if it can be done in an ethical and responsible process however if the science is not certain of the safety and the cultural issues are not resolved then Traditional Owners must have the right to veto mining on their land.

Without these powers, Native Title will remain an Act to hard to follow.