‘an assessment of the long-term outlook for the ecosystem…’ within the Great Barrier Reef Region, s 54(3)(h) of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (Cth)
‘an assessment of the long-term outlook for the heritage values…’ of the Great Barrier Reef Region, section 176(3)(f) of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 2019 (Cth)
“Our outlook has always been one of nurture — our health, our story and our spirit are tied to the spirit and health of Country — when she is well, we are well.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the Traditional Owners, Custodians and stewards of the Reef and its catchments. Some 70 Traditional Owner groups, whose traditional Country extends along the Reef’s coastline and many more whose customary lands form part of the Reef’s catchments, work to care for Sea Country.
This connection extends deep into the past, with the lives of Sea Country people at one with the life of the Reef. It is also a connection that stretches into the future.
“We can tell how much that has shifted and changed. People in the community know who we are and what we do, and we have children who are starting to stand up in front of their classrooms and saying they are junior rangers. That’s a positive impact compared to when we were young. You can see the benefit on how they feel about their Indigenous heritage.
I feel like us being able to work on Country, to be based on Country, a ranger base is not only for our junior rangers, but for all of us, our community, for tourism. Mandubarra regards sharing what we do with community highly. The more everyone knows, the more respect happens on Country, the Country becomes healthier, and the people become healthier and that is a big aspiration for us.”
— Mel Ball, Mandubarra Traditional Owner and business manager
Mel’s journey is intergenerational. She works on Country with her mother and daughter. Together they are reinvigorating the journeys of First Nation Sea Women leading the care of their Sea Country. Collectively, they are aspirational and future-focused, while maintaining strong connections to their ancestors, cultural heritage, and traditional customs and knowledge.
“One of my main purposes is working on Country and I feel proud. Hopefully the bloodline can keep working on Country.”
— Frederick Lefoe, Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Traditional Owner and former Indigenous Ranger
Building the next generation of Sea Country custodians is underway along the Region’s coastline, which is hemmed by waterways, rainforest and mountains. It is a World Heritage Area and Sea Country as diverse as its traditional custodians, who have inhabited their Country for more than 65,000 years. The commonality is the deep commitment to custodianship, love and respect for Sea Country, and an abiding ambition to share Culture with the younger generation, the broader community and the world.
Resilient Country and resilient people across all Sea Countries spanning the Great Barrier Reef is the future.
Source: Caring for Sea Country — Traditional Owner Stories from the Great Barrier Reef 1
