Dave Whitelaw Manager

Banjima People on ROUTE to protecting country

The Banjima people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia have taken strong steps toward implementing their recently completed Banjima Yurlubajagu Strategic Plan, which will help protect country and connect people to traditional lore.

Banjima Country Management has established a Ranger workforce in Tom Price that is focused on building Banjima capacity to be on-country. The program will support the engagement of elders and the transfer of cultural knowledge. Initial focus will be on Banjima Rangers and elders spending time surveying and monitoring important sites to protect Banjima country and culture.

Conservation Management’s backbone support services are being provided to help implement the Healthy Country Plan and address Banjima Country Management’s growing operations and governance needs.

After the Banjima Yurlubajagu Strategic Plan was adopted in 2016, Conservation Management has supported Banjima Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC to develop annual works programs, budgets and funding approvals. They have also helped to establish Banjima Country Management and the ranger workforce to get work happening on the ground, and to begin a process for review to see where improvements can be made into the future.

Through the process of making and implementing the plan, the Banjima People have obtained the support of Conservation Management to help build their capacity in land management. Core skills and techniques of Healthy Country Planning as well as ‘on-ground’ knowledge and practical land management skills will be shared with the Banjima planning and operational teams. A supportive environment will then be available for the transfer of cultural knowledge across the Banjima community.