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During November 2009, Ocean Revolution, NAILSMA
and Save PNG, with the support of The Christensen Fund, brought
together Indigenous land and sea managers from across north
Australia and north Papua New Guinea for a technical and cultural
exchange.
The exchange, which took place in
Madang Province, had a profound effect on the participants from
both Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Naomi Hobson, a member of the Indigenous delegation from
Australia wrote of her experience:
“The trip made me a stronger person and gave
me the resolve and determination to work harder with my Umpila
families to get things done.”
Since returning from the exchange, Naomi has been instrumental
in establishing a Steering Group and Advisory Group to set land and
sea management priorities for Umpila people (known as The Sandbeach
People of Cape York).
In a candid moment, Karkum Village youth prepared a short video
for the delegation from Australia to view on their return home. In
the video, a confident young man spoke openly about his thoughts on
the exchange.
“We would like this type of networking and
communication to be strong and to be carried forward into the
future.
“The future is ours. If we can build such
communities, so that we can get to know each other more and force
the development, we can bring great change to the whole
world.”
Highlights of the exchange included the sharing of music and
dance, cultural tours, technical exchanges (including presenting
I-Tracker to Karkum land and sea managers) and formal and informal
presentations from the delegates.
The exchange also included several private and public meetings
with local PNG landholders, led by members of the Kimberley Land Council Board, to
discuss an 'Indigenous Negotiations Tool Kit' being developed by
Ocean Revolution.
The Indigenous participants from north Australia captured their
experience in Papua New Guinea through a series of photographs and
audio recordings. These elements have been combined to produce a
Story Report for their communities. With the participants’
permission, we are delighted to present these stories to you.
Support for the exchange was provided by; Balkanu Cape York
Development Cooperation; Center for Environmental Law and Community
Rights (Momase); Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Cooperation;
Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation, Kimberley Land Council; Lockhart
River Aboriginal Shire Council; North Australian Indigenous Land
and Sea Management Alliance; Save PNG; Torres Strait Regional
Authority; The Australian Government’s Caring for our
Country, Ocean Revolution and The Christensen Fund.
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