First Nations knowledge, cultural practices and connection to Country will be at the heart of a new Yarkuwa-led project which has been awarded government funding.
The program is designed to help communities across the NSW Murray region prepare for drought and climate impacts.
The announcements on the back of recognition at last week’s NSW Landcare and Local Land Services state conference in Corowa, and during the annual Wamba Wamba Week celebrations.
At the NSW Landcare Awards, Yarkuwa was highly commended in the Australian Government Community Partnerships Landcare Award category.
In this newly funded project, Yarkuwa will work with First Nations communities and regional partners to strengthen skills, build connections and integrate traditional cultural practices into contemporary approaches to drought and climate resilience.
It is one of five First Nations-led projects funded through the Australian Government's $12 million Strengthening Drought Resilience on Country Program, and which also received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
Working alongside Holbrook Landcare Network, Murray Local Land Services, Dinadj and other partners, Yarkuwa will coordinate a range of initiatives focused on knowledge sharing, practical training, cultural burning and wetland rehabilitation.
Yarkuwa's program manager Summer Matthews said a key initiative will be the establishment of a Regional Community of Practice for Culture and Drought Resilience, providing a culturally safe space for First Nations communities, Landcare representatives and other partners to share knowledge, strengthen relationships and collaborate on responses to drought and climate impacts.
The project will also provide place-based training and mentoring, supporting Aboriginal people to develop the skills and confidence to undertake on-ground activities that combine cultural knowledge with contemporary land management practices.
Cultural burning will be a key focus, with training and partnerships supporting Aboriginal people and organisations to plan and undertake cultural burning in appropriate locations across the region.
The project will also support wetland rewilding demonstration sites, showcasing how traditional practices can rehabilitate wetlands, enhance biodiversity, provide drought refuges and re-establish culturally significant places associated with food, fibres and medicine.
“We are seeking First Nations community members and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations across the Murray region from Swan Hill to Tumbarumba to lead the co-design process to ensure local cultural knowledge is valued and preserved, celebrating the diversity of traditional practices and bringing all mob together to heal Country,” Ms Matthews said.
Underpinning the project is the principle that First Nations people should lead decisions about building resilience on their Country.
If you are interested in participating in the project, or would like more information, email summer.matthews@yarkuwa.org.au.