January 2025

Badimia Guwaga First Nations Language Project launches with community workshops

Posted: January 31st, 2025

The Badimia Guwaga Team – including the Bundiyarra-Irra Wangga Language Centre, Badimia community members, and linguist Dr James Bednall – have been awarded a $300,810 grant from the Department of Education for the Badimia Guwaga First Nations Language Project.

In partnership with Mount Magnet District High School, the project aims to foster the use of Badimia language in community and assist with the intergenerational transfer of language and culture among Badimia people. The project is led and directed in consultation with Badimia Elders, organisations, and community, with this recent funding expanding an existing online Badimia language learning portal.

Five trainee educators from the local community will receive comprehensive training in Badimia language, with the aim of participating in classroom teaching at Mount Magnet District High School, as well as leading on-Country activities in partnership with the school. This training will bring the educators in line with the Department of Education’s Aboriginal Language Teacher Training.

In-person activities will also be held on-Country for members of the Badimia community, as well as online opportunities for those off-Country.

This project is entirely driven by the Badimia people and carries on the legacy of the late Gami Ollie George. It also aligns with the Yamatji on-Country 2024 Education Call to Action from young people across the region who have called for an opportunity to learn about culture from a young age, as well as language education in both primary and high school so that language can be passed through the generations.

To kick off this exciting program, a series of community workshops will be held from Thursday, 27 February to Sunday, 2 March 2025, in Mount Magnet. To find out more, download the Badimia Community Language Workshop Flyer.

Read more about the Yamatji on-Country Call to Action here.

Managing fire with the Desert Habitat Method

Posted: January 13th, 2025

Nyangumarta Rangers and Traditional Owners, with the Indigenous Desert Alliance, are managing traditional desert fire methods with modern technology using a new tool.

The Desert Habitat Method (DHM) is a transparent measurement tool which can help rangers to plan, track, and improve their work; explain their work to others, including Elders, community members, and stakeholders; report their work to funders; and encourage potential new funders to see the value of supporting their work. This method focuses on fire management, and is a way to measure the outcomes of right way fire on habitat for native animals.

The DHM is currently in the testing phase, with two on-Country workshops held in 2024 bringing together rangers, Elders, and Traditional Owners to work through the new tool, ensuring it will work effectively. Two trials are also planned to be held in 2025.

The project is supported by funding from the Australian Government’s Innovative Biodiversity Monitoring Program.

Watch this short film from the Indigenous Desert Alliance, Nyangumarta Wika Muwarr, about the recent workshop with Nyangumarta rangers and Traditional Owners, where they share their story of connecting ancient fire management with modern tools.

« prev next »

Images by Salty Davenport

AIATSIS 2025: Call for Abstracts

Posted: January 10th, 2025

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) is calling for abstracts for their 2025 Summit.

The AIATSIS Summit is a five-day forum for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, academics, native title stakeholders, and legal experts, along with representatives from government, galleries, libraries, archives and museums, to come together to collaborate on issues of importance for First Nations peoples.

This year’s summit will be co-hosted by the Larrakia Nation in Garramilla/Darwin, with the theme ‘Voices of Empowerment: Strengthening our Future’. The theme pays tribute to a world where First Nations people’s rights, knowledge, and voices are respected and valued by all Australians.

The Summit also incorporates a Youth and Emerging Leadership stream. An opportunity to apply for sponsorship will open in January 2025.

The call for abstracts is now open, closing on Friday 24 January 2025.

Download the Call for Abstracts flyer for more information, or visit the AIATSIS website to submit.

Applications open for the Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Water Interest

Posted: January 10th, 2025

Expressions of Interest are invited from First Nations people across WA to join the Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Water Interests (CAWI).

CAWI is an independent body advocating for First Nations peoples’ inland water rights, values, and interests with governments and water stakeholders at national and state levels. CAWI members are committed to elevating the cultural, spiritual, social, economic, and environmental interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.

The Committee is currently seeking people with experience in these areas:

• Western cultural water rights and interests
• Water science
• Management and leadership
• Advocacy and working with government
• Strategic governance and communications
• Policy and planning.

The committee meets face-to-face at least four times a year, and members are remunerated. Travel, accommodation, and meal allowances are arranged by the Department of Climate change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

Applications close at 9.59pm AWST on Friday 28 February 2025.

Download the Position Description for more information and to apply, or visit the DCCEEW website.

Train for the New York City Marathon with the Indigenous Marathon Project

Posted: January 9th, 2025

Registrations are now open for the Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP).

Each year, 12 First Nations people from across Australia and between the ages of 18 – 30 spend six months training with IMP for the biggest marathon in the world, the New York City Marathon. IMP covers all costs for squad members, including travel, accommodation, education costs, equipment, and a uniform.

The IMP program is more than just athletic training, as squad members meet throughout the year to participate in a camp and an official running event, as well as hear from inspirational leaders. The compulsory education component of the program will also provide squad members with:

• A Certificate in Indigenous Leadership and Health Promotion
• A Level 1 Recreational Running Coach Accreditation through Athletics Australia
• CPR and First Aid qualifications
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid
• Media training.

Previous IMP squad members have used their training to become change-makers and leaders in their communities for healthy and active lifestyles – like Shannon Stack, proud Yamatji and Noongar man who completed the program in 2024, and who hopes to inspire others to chase their dreams.

Download the IMP flyer for more information, and apply now on the Indigenous Marathon Foundation website.

To donate to the program, contact the Indigenous Marathon Foundation Fundraising and Partnerships Manager on 02 6162 4750.