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Collaboration between
Karajarri Peoples - Yiriman Project - Kimberley Land Council - Land & Sea Management Unit
Field Trip One: 20-22/10/2003
Binning Binning Area (Gourdon Bay - Port Smth)
Present: Edna Hopiga, Lenny Hopiga, Mervyn Milardy Snr, Mervyn Melardy Jnr, Steven Possum, Paul Bullrider, Cousy, Peter Ljubic, Tom Vigilante, Steven Vigilante, Dwight Hoipiga, William Watson.
Trip Report:
Objective
· introduce
people involved;
· talk about several opportunities which could arise;
· travel over the country being managed to identify any immediate factors
that require attention;
· develop a list of immediate action that can take place;
· develop an idea of the funds required to run projects; and
· trigger any ideas on how to manage country and increase opportunities
for young people
There to talk about initial ideas for the project were Tom Vigilante form the
KLC and I from the Yiriman project.
Tom discussed a submission to the Kimberley Development Commission he had put together for the Karajarri people. The Karajarri TO's are interested in the idea of harvesting native flora and fauna as an enterprise idea. This could very easily be tied in with the land management work, and a great opportunity for women to get involved; who it would seem generally miss out. This of course is to be discussed in greater detail in the future.
The area of most concern and in need of immediate attention is the Port Smith - Gourdon Bay area. Possum called this Binning Binning area because of a soak with the same name near by. This language name for the area will be discussed further as the project advances.
Due to the Port Smith
Caravan Park (PSCP) being smack bang in the middle of this area; it is clearly
evident that a high number of seasonal tourists make use of the surrounding
coastal area. Although the PSCP attendant states he recommends tourists do not
drive over sand dunes and in sensitive areas, damage is clearly being done in
many forms. (Vehicle tracks, sand dune erosion, rubbish, land clearing, over
fishing) Tourists not only utilize the area from the PSCP, but it is believed
there are a large number of weekend commuters from Broome. Different strategies
will need to be developed in order to manage both these groups of visitors.
The methods discussed were:
1. No entry signs in the main entrances and tracks to the area.
2. Large signs stating go and no go zones in populated areas.
3. Pamphlets stating the go and no go zones
4. Track closure
5. Managed Permit System
6. Lockable gates and fencing
It is of great concern to the people these tourists are roaming over sensitive areas unmanaged. Of great urgency is to get some kind of visual and physical presence moving through country controlling the movements of tourists. Although a full blown ranger program is expensive and requires a great amount of logistics, it was suggested several interested young people could move through country providing information to tourists. This would be inexpensive and easy to manage and equip. Utilising individuals who have prior training in this field would be the most obvious way to go.
Although quite a large
project to facilitate and manage, there are many things a small group of individuals
with genuine support can achieve. It is important for the benefit of traditional
owners and young people that active management of country takes place, and soon.
From this field trip a list of short term and long term goals were discussed.
Short term goals can be achieved without a great deal of funding, management
and people. It is important not to get tied up in logistical quicksand and for
the sake of people involved, get the project moving. Achievable short term projects
were:
1. Fire Management (Early season burning)
2. Mapping of current road/track system
3. Blocking of roads where erosion is evident and access to appropriate people
is not hindered.
4. Patrolling of area by TO's
Long term Projects
1. Permit System
2. Entrance gates
3. Designated and Managed camping sites
4. Tourist Maps, signs and pamphlets of area.
5. Gates and fencing
6. Ranger Training
The Yiriman Project views this as a great opportunity to get young people both
male and female actively involved in managing their country. Bidyadanga has
many serious social problems, and land management is one way that has proven
to indirectly deal with such problems.
Evidence deriving
from the Nyikina/Mangala land management project suggests young people involved;
show a visible increase in self concept and self worth. It is difficult to ignore
such results in an environment where little else is working. It is the objective
of the Yiriman Project, and Karajarri elders to involve as many young people
as possible in this project. In a world of disillusionment, developing a project
with enormous relevance will have great results, and we at the Yiriman Project
expect nothing less.