Batchelor trained rangers to meet with Commonwealth Ministers
26 May 2009
A group of Indigenous Rangers from the Gove Peninsula in the Northern Territory will meet with Commonwealth Ministers Peter Garrett, Brendan O’Connor and Warren Snowdon in Canberra tomorrow to discuss their front-line role in managing Australia’s northern coastline.
The Rangers, from the Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation, are completing a Certificate in Conservation and Land Management through Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and are visiting Canberra as part of a wider study tour of cultural heritage and natural resource management.
The Dhimurru Rangers manage land and sea scapes on the Indigenous Protected Area in North East Arnhem Land using a “both ways” approach to manage the country. This approach sees traditional owners’ access mainstream science and technology to assist in resource management whilst the traditional owners maintain their cultural protocols and priorities.
Batchelor Institute Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr Tony Mordini said that the Canberra meeting was timely, particularly given current concerns over illegal immigrants, quarantine, conservation and environmental issues.
“The Institute has been involved with providing training for land and sea rangers for over 10 years so they can develop their skills and gain qualifications to provide these essential services from their own remote communities which are relevant to the national agenda.”
“Like many Batchelor graduates and trainees, the Indigenous Rangers play a specific role in the management and future direction of their communities. Education and training has given them the opportunity to learn how to preserve and improve their valuable yet vulnerable social and ecological environment.”
“This meeting in Canberra will help demonstrate the tangible and relevant results that can be achieved through Indigenous training and the necessity in further supporting this vital education sector”, Dr Mordini said.
The group will include 11 Indigenous Rangers and two facilitators and will be accompanied by Paul Younger, Batchelor Institute Lecturer in Conservation and Land Management.
The Rangers will perform a Bunggul, a traditional dance and song, at Parliament House in honour of the meeting.
During their study tour the Indigenous Rangers will also meet with NSW Parks and Wildlife staff who will host them at several key National Parks to share experiences in conservation management.
