Guardians Of The Mardoowara

Dr Anne Poelina, a 2011 Fellow of the Peter Cullen Trust.

"....In October 2016 I presented Mardoowarra (Fitzroy River) vs State of WA and Federal Government in a mock trial to the Tribunal for Nature in Brisbane.

This citizens’ tribunal heard cases presented by citizens and Earth lawyers concerned about the destruction of ecosystems and the wider Earth community in Australia. Together with friends of the Mardoowarra, I brought the case to the Tribunal to ask the citizens of the court to recognise the Mardoowarra as a living entity with a right to life ... like her sister the Wanganui River in New Zealand.

The Wanganui River has stood strong, and with the help of her Indigenous guardians and the strength and wisdom of their legal and cultural governance, she now has set international legal precedence across Mother Earth!

Fitzroy River Declaration

Following the Tribunal for Nature, Traditional Owners (photo above), guardians
of the Fitzroy River Catchment (in north-west WA), met on the 2nd and 3rd of November 2016 in Fitzroy Crossing on the banks of the river. They are concerned by the extensive development proposals facing the Fitzroy River and its catchment and the potential for cumulative impacts on its unique cultural and environmental values.

The unique cultural and environmental values of the Fitzroy River and its catchment are of national and international significance. The Fitzroy River is a living ancestral being and has a right to life. It must be protected for current and future generations, and managed jointly by the Traditional Owners of the river. In response to increasing development pressure, Kimberley Traditional Owners have pledged to work together to protect and manage the Fitzroy River and its tributaries, one of the most iconic wild rivers in Western Australia. The ‘Fitzroy River Declaration’ (see box, right),

aims to protect the traditional and environmental values that underpin the river’s National Heritage Listing.

It is because of its exceptional natural and cultural values to the nation that the entire Fitzroy River Catchment was added to the National Heritage Listing in 2011 by the Australian Government. The Fitzroy River is also listed as an Aboriginal Heritage Site under the Western Australian Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972.

The Fitzroy River Declaration 2016 sets a national standard for native title, as
well as enshrining the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for self-determining our responsibilities as guardians of the Fitzroy River as being fundamental to the management of this globally unique river system. The Declaration sends a strong message to the Federal Government to endorse the EPBC Act (1999) draft Referral Guidelines for the West Kimberley National Heritage Places (2012) as the guiding principles for development within the Fitzroy Catchment.

In the Declaration, Traditional Owners of the Fitzroy Catchment agreed to work together to:

1. Action a process for joint EPBC decision-making on activities in the Fitzroy Catchment;

2. Reach a joint position on fracking in the Fitzroy Catchment;

3. Create a buffer zone for no mining, oil, gas, irrigation and dams in the Fitzroy Catchment;

4. Develop and agree on a Management Plan for the entire Fitzroy Catchment, based on traditional and environmental values;

5. Develop a Fitzroy River Management Body for the Fitzroy Catchment, founded on cultural governance;

6. Complement these with a joint Indigenous Protected Area over the Fitzroy River;

7. Engage with shire and state government to communicate concerns and ensure they follow the agreed joint process;

8. Investigate legal options to support the above, including:
a) strengthen protections under the EPBC Act National Heritage Listing;
b) strengthen protections under the Aboriginal Heritage Act; and c) legislation to protect the Fitzroy Catchment and its unique cultural and natural values.

Please view the 10 minute film 'Mardoowarra’s Right To Life'

(Password: Kimberley)

Website: www.majala.com.au

Phone: +61 408922155

Email: majala@wn.com.au

Download this article as a PDF - Guardians Of The Mardoowara (459kbs)

Climate Justice: a call to broaden science with Indigenous knowledge

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"..As policy makers, systems, researchers, health professionals and communities grapple with how to respond to the rapidly emerging health threats of climate change, the knowledges and practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must be central."

For more on this recently published article please navigate to https://croakey.org/climate-justice-a-call-to-broaden-science-with-indigenous-knowledge/

Kimberley Traditional Owners unite for the Fitzroy River

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MEDIA RELEASE

14th November 2016

In response to increasing development pressure, Kimberley Traditional Owners have pledged to work together to protect and manage the Fitzroy River and its tributaries, one of the most iconic wild rivers in Western Australia.

During a two-day meeting in Fitzroy Crossing, Traditional Owners agreed upon a Fitzroy River Declaration, aiming to protect the traditional and environmental values that underpin the river’s National Heritage Listing.

The historic declaration identifies eight key steps that Traditional Owners agree are needed to protect and manage the Fitzroy River, including a buffer zone for development, a joint position on fracking, development of a Fitzroy River management plan complemented by an Indigenous Protected Area, and a management body for the river.

Walmajarri Traditional Owner Anthony McLarty said the declaration aims to address concerns of Traditional Owners regarding extensive development proposals currently facing the river and its catchment.

“We know that there are pressures from industry and government to access and use the Fitzroy River, and these pressures have the ability to impact on its many cultural and environmental values,” Mr McLarty said.

“We are also concerned that the cumulative impacts of development along the river will not be managed or considered appropriately by the Western Australian Government.

“The Fitzroy River is one living system. The river gives life and has a right to life, and we are determined to protect it for current and future generations.”

Bunuba Traditional Owner Keith Bedford said the declaration demonstrates that native title rights of Traditional Owners are central to the ongoing management and protection of the entire Fitzroy catchment.

"As native title holders and claimants, Kimberley Aboriginal people respect each other’s autonomy, but we are also committed to working together to better manage and look after the river system,” Mr Bedford said.

Nyikina Mangala Traditional Owner Dr Anne Poelina said the Fitzroy River Declaration sends a clear message to government and industry that Traditional Owners are prepared to stand together for the future of this globally unique living water system.

“We want to see the Fitzroy River and catchment protected all the way from its head to its tail, and we will work together to make sure there are strong measures in place that achieve this goal.

“We invite industry, government, and other stakeholders to work with us in achieving this outcome.”

In 2011 the entire Fitzroy River catchment was added to the National Heritage Listing by the Australian Government because of its exceptional natural and cultural value to the nation, joining other iconic sites such as Uluru and Purnululu National Park. The Fitzroy River is also listed as an Aboriginal Heritage Site under the Western Australian Aboriginal Heritage Act.

The Fitzroy River Declaration sets a national standard for native title rights and the role of Traditional Owners as being fundamental to the management of the environment and informed decision making about development.

For any interview requests please call Monique Paschke, Media Coordinator, on 0408 436 987.

Download the Media Statement - DOCx [ 1.6 MBs ]

Big History, Deep Time and the Age of Humans

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In this 'Age of Humans' our species is outstripping the planet's capacity to maintain conditions conducive to many forms of life. We are pushing the Earth System towards rapid, unpredictable and potentially catastrophic state changes beyond the evolutionary experience of both humans and many other species.

Dr. Anne Poelina will present at this event - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/big-history-deep-time-and-the-age-of-humans-tickets-27669266521

Learning About The Liyan

"...In late July, I joined a group of 24 travellers from across Australia to explore the Kimberley for a week. But this wasn’t any tourist trip, we were meeting and staying with Traditional Custodians to hear their stories and understand their fight for land. And what an eye- opening trip it was!" - read more

Great Australian Story

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Sending the Dream Out to Dream My Reality.

Here is some of me dreaming my reality and sending the dream out about my heritage, recently published on the website of Great Australian StoryMy question to my family and the broader public is that if there is anyinformation that can be corrected and updated please let me know?

Poelina, Anne. 2016. Blood Line Song Line Part 1. Great Australian Story.

Poelina, Anne. 2016. Blood Line Song Line Part 2. Great Australian Story. 

Building The New Economy

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Dr Anne Poelina : Building the new economy: Actionism, enterprise and social and Economic Change

ENVIRONMENTAL HUMANISM

I will be presenting on the following:

Today's economy is built on the foundation of global industrial and financial systems with immense productive capacity, but the extractive nature of this has created extreme income disparity and social injustice and wrought devastation on people, communities and nature.

1. The New Economy must be grounded in Climate Reality and the need to transition from Fossil Fuel and the destruction of people and communities and their connection to maintain the sovereignty of our Australian nations,  land, water, food security.

2. Promote the reality thatAustralian Aboriginal peoples are the traditional custodians of Australian land, water and biodiversity and continue to manage these natural and cultural assets from the beginning of time into modernity.  

3. Much of the development coming into the region promotes external and multi-national interest and does not provide the opportunity for Free Prior and Informed Consent necessary for a social licence for large scale industrial projects. To this end there is limited opportunity to demonstrate the social, cultural and environmental impacts on people, communities, land, water and food security.  Bio-regional investment and planning is nonexistent in the Kimberley especially in reference to investment into the current and future projects promoting Northern Development White Paper and Strategies and Trans Pacific Partnership Treaty!

4. We need to advocate for a regional approach to development (collective wisdom) which includes traditional ecological knowledge, western science and industry partnerships to build "forever" industries. We need to identify and manage existing cultural, environmental and human assets and showcase these to the world.

5. Summary: Our (Nyikina) people have an intergenerational relationship with nature and non-human beings and have existing Indigenous and human rights to development. Weare collaborating with regional, national and international partners to research, plan and develop and protect our land, water and food security and we are exploring science, culture, heritage and environmental assets to build culture and conservation economies on kandri/country. We are looking for partnerships and investment to demonstrate an international climate mitigation for sustainable livelihoods, as a model to save the planet and humanity!

Website: www.majala.com.au

Mobile: 0408922155

Email: majala@wn.com.au

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Download the Conference Program - [ PDF ]

NRM Funding Success

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State Natural and Resource Management Partnership with Madjulla Inc. V & C Semeniuk Research Group and Walalakoo Native Title Body Corporate

Dr Anne Poelina Managing Director of Madjulla Inc in partnership with V & C Semeniuk Research Group were successful in acquiring the State NRM Funding to support the collaboration with the Nyikina Mangala Walalakoo (Native Title) Body Corporate (WBC) proposal to develop a Natural and Cultural Heritage Precinct for Education and Tourism. 

The Kimberley region, listed on the National Heritage List, is located within the Rangelands NRM as a priority region and high value asset. The area is one of the last great wilderness areas of the World. The Nyikina Mangala Native title area covers more than 26,000 sq. km, extending from the mouth of the King Sound below Derby, along the Fitzroy Valley to Noonkanbah and south into the Great Sandy Desert. However, it has been identified that there is a gap in environmental information in this region. Therefore, to evaluate the opportunities and constraints of developing the Natural Heritage and Cultural Heritage Precinct, and obtain information on where to locate trails and infrastructure, as well as maintaining the values of the region by managingmajor environmental threats such as fire, weeds, surface run off and feral animals, there is an urgent need to undertake environmental baseline studies, incorporating Western Science and Indigenous knowledge.

This grant is an important first step in developing a baseline study to describe the cultural, archaeological, and natural values of the Fitzroy River Valley Native Title area. This approach will lead to both science-based planning and management and the capacity to maintain the high values of the site both for their inherent and cultural values and to the development of sustainable Indigenous enterprise opportunities. 

Community members will be targeted for a pathway in land and water management and biodiversity restoration and conservation to manage the inherent Natural and Cultural Heritage Precinct located on this globally unique river country.

Nyikina Cultural App

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The Nyikina Cultural App project is on target and we are hoping to have an operational app within a few weeks that anyone can access via the Apple App Store and also for Android users too. This is a just a quick update to assure you we are hard at work in the background on this important community resource.

Kakadu Man

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I feel it is a story for our beautiful boab tree families.  Some of the special ones have vibrational energy of healing…..in this picture the boab nuts are heart shaped!

A beautiful poem by an amazing elder

Bill Neidjie (1989)

Kakadu Man

I love it tree because e love me too.

E watching me same as you

Tree e working with your body, my body,

E working with us.

While you sleep e working.

Daylight, when you walking around e work too.

That tree, grass…..that all like our Father.

Dirt, earth, I sleep with this earth.

Grass…..just like your Brother.

In my blood in my arm this grass.

This dirt for us because we’ll be dead,

Well be going this earth.

This the story now.