SALT WATER PEOPLE

A project aimed to give the Saltwater people of Marra, Yanyuwa, Warndarrang and Nunggubuyu a voice in regard to a draft management plan of the Limmen Marine Park and Commonwealth waters around the Gulf of Carpenteria. They were left out of an important conversation.

These areas are of major significance to the people of the area containing sacred sites, songlines and areas that contain rich marine life. None of them were consulted on the plan and there was a very short window for response. If it wasn’t for one of the Li-anthawirriyarra Sea Rangers who caught wind of the planned meetings, they may have missed their opportunity to respond. This project is about stopping mining, the building of ports, fracking and various other activities that could destroy one of our last protected pieces of coastline. The purpose was to seek consultation from the Elders and Traditional Owners around Ngukurr and Borroloola (as they have thousands of years of land and ocean management experience) and articulate their voice into a meaningful cultural document to submit as a response to the management plan. Thanks to the the Saltwater people of Marra, Yanyuwa, Warndarrang and Nunggubuyu.

Thanks to the the Saltwater people of Marra, Yanyuwa, Warndarrang and Nunggubuyu who were so willing to share their culture in the hope that it may always be protected.

Thank you to the Australian Marine Conservation Society who supported the creation of the cultural map to accompany this submission.
We also acknowledge the Federal Government assistance in providing logistics support to enable this consultation to take place by way of providing transport and documentation support to Simon Normand and Shane Thomson in getting to and travelling around the Limmen Bight region Gulf of Carpentaria - Oct 14th to 19th 2017.