Traditional Owner Engagement
Traditional Owner Engagement in Natural Resource Management
ABOVE: Traditional Owner directors of Burnett Mary Regional Group, Lurl Henderson
and Mal Collinge
Overview Traditional Owner Working Group
The Traditional Owner Working Group (TOWG) comprises two representatives from
each of the Traditional Owners groups in the Burnett Mary region.
The Traditional Owner Groups for the region are:
- Bailai
- Butchulla
- Djaku-Nde & Jangerie Jangerie
- Gooreng Gooreng
- Gurang
- Jinibara
- Kabi Kabi
- Taribelang Bunda
- Wakka Wakka
- Wulli Wulli
The TOWG are responsible for the election of BMRG Board delegates for their sector
and serve as the first point of reference for business relating to natural resource
management and caring for country. The TOWG is the united voice of the respective
Traditional Owner peoples in the region. The main aim of the TOWG is to seek,
develop and implement improvements in the management of Land and Sea Country.
Roles and Responsibility
The role of the TOWG is identified as:
- Support 'on country' Traditional Owner groups and their activities
- Provide future Traditional Owner representation and advice to the BMRG Board
of Management
- Provide an inclusive process for Traditional Owner involvement
- Increase involvement of Traditional Owner's in caring for country in the region.
- Holistic approach to NRM in the region (i.e. saltwater/freshwater, land, sea
and rivers are all connected and must be managed as a whole living thing)
- Native Title issues are beyond the scope of these groups' activities. TOWG will
focus on regional issues that face caring for their country such as poor water
quality, salinity, cultural heritage management and common ground that connects
everyone in the region.
- Bring Murri people together in unity to talk about the common good in caring
for countryby identifying issues that affect the region as a whole (eg salinity,
weed control, water quality in rivers and streams, Biodiversity etc)
- Work with BMRG staff to find the resources needed for caring for country programs.
- Nomination and election of male and female Traditional Owner Board Directors
(every three years)
Meeting Frequency and Timing
The TOWG will meet a minimum of two times a year for a period of two days. Organisation,
coordination and facilitation of the TOWG meetings will be the responsibility
of BMRG. Meetings are rotated around the region annually with a minimum of one
meeting each year to be held in Bundaberg.
Previous meetings:
- Gympie (June 17/18 2010)
- Bundaberg (December 10 2010)
- Maryborough (March 7/8 2011)
Planned Future Meetings:
- Miriam Vale (April 2011)
- Cherbourg (June 2011)
Idenftified Priorities for TOWG Activities
At the TOWG meeting in June 2010 in Gympie, the TOWG identified a list of priority
areas that BMRG should be targeting and they include:
- Identifying Cultural Pathways
- Cultural site restoration and maintenance
- Welcome signage into country and dual-language signage (creeks, bridges, crossings)
- Registering and recording sites of cultural significance
- Protection of midden sites along the Coast
- Increasing awareness on Bush foods/Traditional Medicine/Bushcraft and harvesting
- More NRM employment opportunities
- More engagement in Policy/Planning for Sustainable NRM
- Junior/Youth green job schemes
- Partnerships with councils on pest and weed management teams with local Aboriginal
communities
- Stronger engagement with stakeholders
- Foreshore protection
- Threatened species and habitat identification
For more information contact:
Chris McCarthy
Murri Engagement and Projects Coordinator
Mobile: 0429 462 463
Address: Unit 8 Railway Square
Diamond St
Cooroy Qld 4563
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