The publication earlier this year of the Kimberley Indigenous Women’s Ranger Strategy 2024 – 2034 (KIW Ranger Strategy) marks a huge milestone for the collective women’s movement. It is the culmination of many years’ work lead by the Kimberley Land Council (KLC), and captures the voices of over 50 women rangers from across the Kimberley.
I was very lucky to attend the Kwodjet Goorliny (Walking Together) Symposium on Menang Boodjar (Country) in Albany last week. This was a very special opportunity to learn more about cross cultural knowledge and looking after country initiatives across Noongar Boodjar, to hear the stories of Noongar Elders and families and to connect with leaders and practitioners.
Today, I want to recognise and celebrate the deadly as First Nations women looking after their Country and communities, for the work they do tirelessly every day!
I want to highlight the women’s networks investing in women to come together, to have unity in struggles and create space to collectively work out ways to meet our local communities’ needs, to support First Nations voices and leadership in creating positive change.
Last week Leah and I had the lucky task of travelling to Yunbenun-Magnetic Island to spend two days working with an inspiring group of community leaders from across the Great Barrier Reef coast. Each community leader came with their region’s Community Action Plan, developed using the Conservation Standards and built on the shared values, knowledge, aspirations and priorities of people and groups protecting, restoring and advocating for the Reef in their local communities.
A good plan should record the decisions you make about what needs to happen to create the impact you are hoping to have. It is an important step, but only one in a continuous cycle. I asked our team of planners to reflect on what ‘good’ planning and a good plan can look like, summarised in this short video. We hope it is helpful and we encourage you to share it and use it freely.
Conservation Management has worked with Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) and their Indigenous Protected Area steering committees for the past year – to review existing plans for Walalkara, Apara-Makiri-Punti and Kalka-Pipalyatjara IPAs, and prepare them for the next 10 years.
“We are Strong Indigenous Women of the Northern Territory. We stand united as one strong voice. We commit to a network that gives us equal power to the rights of all our women. Strong women means healthy country.”
We are currently undertaking conversations, and an online survey, with Indigenous land managers in southern Australia about feral cats and foxes on behalf of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) who want to understand how they can better support Indigenous land managers to control feral cats and foxes.
There are just four days left to provide feedback on the Indigenous Ranger Sector Strategy 2022-2028, Consultation Draft. While Conservation Management commends the National Indigenous Australians Agency in acting on the need for an overarching strategy and supportive structures for the Indigenous Ranger Sector, we see some critical failings in the overall approach. Our feedback is a collective effort from the Conservation Management team – please feel free to adapt and use any views we have expressed here to make them your own. You can find the Draft Strategy documents, and provide feedback via consultation workshop (Tuesday 31 May), survey or written response at the NIAA website.