MFRC is committed to working collaboratively on First Nations led projects with a diverse range of groups and organisations. The focus of the projects we have initiated or partnered with will always be informed by our broader commitment to protecting Martuwarra country, supporting all the communities of beings that rely on and are nurtured by Martuwarra and honouring First Law principles, values and practices, passed on through all our ancestors, from time immemorial.
To date MFRC have initiated, hosted and led projects across a broad interdisciplinary field covering that includes creative industries, environmental sciences, community development, sustainable tourism, cultural heritage and socioeconomic wellbeing. At all times our goal is to highlight and identify the critical role Indigenous knowledges and Aboriginal peoples play in developing and deploying equitable and sustainable practices for all people and all country.
Martuwarra River Keepers are Traditional Custodians working on Country to research, manage and protect a globally unique River system. They are Elders and young Indigenous leaders who are empowering innovative, entrepreneurial industry and job creation.
This transformative workforce development program is based on Indigenous science, cultural capital and conservation. The Martuwarra River Keepers develop economic opportunities which are focused on restoration, not extraction.
The goals of the Martuwarra River Keepers are:
- Implement MFRC’s Conservation and Management Plan
- Work in partnership with the Shire of Derby (West Kimberley) to develop a Bioregional framework for managing the Martuwarra-Fitzroy Catchment. This includes holding meetings where Martuwarra River Keepers and Shire representatives can connect with global experts in water management
- Research and generate sustainable, regenerative economies. These regional economies will enshrine the cultural and ecosystem value of water and provide long term employment for Aboriginal people
- Undertake specific professional development training to help implement these goals The concept of Martuwarra River Keepers arose from the ‘Circle of Wisdom’ - a series of dialogues between Martuwarra Elders and young Indigenous leaders in 2021.
The Martuwarra River Keepers initiative will transition Indigenous community members from a dependence on Centerlink into a sustainable career pathway. This 2-year internship provides participants the opportunity to live and work on Country.
Read more
https://madjulla.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-Brochure-Trail-for-Life.pdf
https://www.wilderness.org.au/iconic-places/the-kimberley/martuwarra-river-keepers#What
It was developed in collaboration with The University of Western Australia’s School of Social Sciences, this digital resource illuminates the interconnectedness of Culture, Country, and Truth as understood and preserved by our communities. Through themes and stories, the project highlights the cultural identity, geological significance, and environmental fragility of the region.
The exhibition amplifies voices of Martuwarra, offering visitors a deep, immersive experience that celebrates the resilience, heritage, and ongoing cultural connection of the Aboriginal people to their land and waterways
The Building Indigenous Capacity in Culture, Tourism and Conservation Economies project, funded by the Western Australian Government’s State Natural Resource Management Program, aimed to protect and sustain the culturally and ecologically significant boab trees (Adansonia gregorii) of the Kimberley region. The Boabs are sacred and integral to Indigenous heritage, these trees are at risk due to climate change and human development pressures.
This collaborative project combined Indigenous knowledge and Western scientific methods to monitor and preserve boab ecosystems, focusing on water table fluctuations and other environmental changes. Through monthly citizen science initiatives, the project fostered community engagement, especially among Pandanus Park Women volunteers, who contributed essential data for ecological and economic valuation. Long-term goals included creating sustainable tourism and conservation opportunities along the Martuwarra (Fitzroy River), thereby supporting local economic development while sharing the river’s unique cultural significance with a global audience.
Read more
https://madjulla.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/NRM-Boab-Research.pdf
https://madjulla.org/our-work/boab-science/
The wet season river trip on the Martuwarra (Fitzroy River) was a journey undertaken by Lachie Carracher (MFRC Project Manager and River Guide), young leaders of the MFRC: Hozaus Claire, Deandre Gunn, Rhys Brooking and Nelson Baker, Mark Coles Smith, actor and artist, who also grew up on the banks of the River; ecologist Ian Bool, who had worked extensively on fauna in the central Kimberley, and Environmental Scientist Donny Imberlong, seed collector and photographer who was born and raised in the north-east Kimberley. Lastly, Sean “Tank” Clement, Franklin River guide, and experienced outdoorsman Simon Blake.
This expedition aimed to deepen the group’s understanding of the river as a sacred entity and strengthen the commitment to protect it from industrial threats, especially water extraction and mining, which risk harming its ecosystem and the traditional connections of Indigenous communities.
The first part of this series covers the significance of the river and community efforts to protect it from threats, including industrial development. The second article explores the river’s sacred role as an ancestral being, and the final piece delves into ongoing environmental and legal struggles over its preservation. For more insights, you can read the full articles below.
https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2022/06/immersed-in-martuwarra/
https://thenorthface.com.au/explore-blogs/river-home.html
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/05/a-journey-down-was-mighty-martuwarra-raging-river-and-sacred-ancestor
