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Indigenous governance: Girringun unites landowners to protect country Girringun: the story of a unique group of traditional owners
(about 1 hour later)
Passing down the skills and knowledge of elders is key to the success of a unique cohort of nine traditional owner groups formed to protect a huge area of land and sea in far north Queensland, its leaders say.Passing down the skills and knowledge of elders is key to the success of a unique cohort of nine traditional owner groups formed to protect a huge area of land and sea in far north Queensland, its leaders say.
Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, one of eight finalists in the Indigenous Governance Awards (IGA), has put years of work into building consensus among the groups and gaining credibility with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people around Cardwell on the far north Queensland coast.Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, one of eight finalists in the Indigenous Governance Awards (IGA), has put years of work into building consensus among the groups and gaining credibility with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people around Cardwell on the far north Queensland coast.
The organisation’s chief executive and co-founder, Phil Rist, told Guardian Australia that credibility was vital to the corporation’s reputation.The organisation’s chief executive and co-founder, Phil Rist, told Guardian Australia that credibility was vital to the corporation’s reputation.
“How many times do you hear of an Aboriginal organisation going belly-up, with money [that has] been spent wrong, or poor governance?” he said.“How many times do you hear of an Aboriginal organisation going belly-up, with money [that has] been spent wrong, or poor governance?” he said.
“People out there in the broader community see that stuff and they growl about it and say ‘here them blackfellas go again’, but here in the Girringun footprint the [community] is comfortable with what we put forward.”“People out there in the broader community see that stuff and they growl about it and say ‘here them blackfellas go again’, but here in the Girringun footprint the [community] is comfortable with what we put forward.”
This week the organisation, founded in 1996, presented its work to a team of visiting judges, included the IGA chairman, Mick Dodson, the chief executive of the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services, Eddie Cubillo, and the Department of Employment’s Marsha Milliken.This week the organisation, founded in 1996, presented its work to a team of visiting judges, included the IGA chairman, Mick Dodson, the chief executive of the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services, Eddie Cubillo, and the Department of Employment’s Marsha Milliken.
The corporation hopes its work protecting about 150,000 square kilometres of land and sea and supporting the community through numerous programs is enough to win the award and a $20,000 prize.The corporation hopes its work protecting about 150,000 square kilometres of land and sea and supporting the community through numerous programs is enough to win the award and a $20,000 prize.
The awards, run every two years by Reconciliation Australia in partnership with BHP Billiton, identify, celebrate and promote strong Indigenous governance.The awards, run every two years by Reconciliation Australia in partnership with BHP Billiton, identify, celebrate and promote strong Indigenous governance.
At the heart of Girringun’s work is keeping the knowledge and culture of the old people alive among the younger generations.At the heart of Girringun’s work is keeping the knowledge and culture of the old people alive among the younger generations.
“Most mob have an affiliation to country, and that’s what’s coming through for [the judges], the culture is within the organisation, so people are drawn to it,” Cubillo said.“Most mob have an affiliation to country, and that’s what’s coming through for [the judges], the culture is within the organisation, so people are drawn to it,” Cubillo said.
“A lot of kids are going away to get educated and hopefully they’ll come back to these positions, which allow them to work on country. But that doesn’t happen in most places. If kids aren’t strong in their culture there are other attractions in urban centres.”“A lot of kids are going away to get educated and hopefully they’ll come back to these positions, which allow them to work on country. But that doesn’t happen in most places. If kids aren’t strong in their culture there are other attractions in urban centres.”
The Girringun region is surrounded by tightly restricted and world heritage-listed areas and the organisation co-manages about 1.2m hectares of land and sea under the country’s first Indigenous Protection Area (IPA) agreement. The work includes an extensive environmental protection and regeneration project, a Working on Country ranger program, an arts centre and program and numerous cultural and community services.The Girringun region is surrounded by tightly restricted and world heritage-listed areas and the organisation co-manages about 1.2m hectares of land and sea under the country’s first Indigenous Protection Area (IPA) agreement. The work includes an extensive environmental protection and regeneration project, a Working on Country ranger program, an arts centre and program and numerous cultural and community services.
Judges are looking for something among the finalists that sets them apart – a tough ask among a group as varied as the geographies they come from, including the central desert, Melbourne city, the bush and, in this case, the tropics.Judges are looking for something among the finalists that sets them apart – a tough ask among a group as varied as the geographies they come from, including the central desert, Melbourne city, the bush and, in this case, the tropics.
A key question for the more remote organisations is how they manage their affairs with a very limited population from which to draw employees.A key question for the more remote organisations is how they manage their affairs with a very limited population from which to draw employees.
“This is semi-remote and they try and do the best with what they’ve got,” Cubillo told Guardian Australia. Finding qualified people was further complicated in areas where numeracy and literacy levels were low, he said.“This is semi-remote and they try and do the best with what they’ve got,” Cubillo told Guardian Australia. Finding qualified people was further complicated in areas where numeracy and literacy levels were low, he said.
“When you do get quality, like the situation you have here, you have a heavy reliance on those individuals,” he said.“When you do get quality, like the situation you have here, you have a heavy reliance on those individuals,” he said.
Cubillo told Guardian Australia that Girringun’s success in formulating boundaries and building consensus among the groups without outside interference was “unheard of”.Cubillo told Guardian Australia that Girringun’s success in formulating boundaries and building consensus among the groups without outside interference was “unheard of”.
“For me that shows that they are looking to the future and have the willingness to put aside small differences for the bigger cause,” he said. “I’m pretty astounded by that.”“For me that shows that they are looking to the future and have the willingness to put aside small differences for the bigger cause,” he said. “I’m pretty astounded by that.”
Girringun’s ranger program employs 12 people who work in co-operation with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, protecting, maintaining and monitoring the environment under the IPA. Rangers also visit schools and the junior program has 40 teenagers enrolled and learning skills.Girringun’s ranger program employs 12 people who work in co-operation with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, protecting, maintaining and monitoring the environment under the IPA. Rangers also visit schools and the junior program has 40 teenagers enrolled and learning skills.
“That strikes a chord with Girringun,” said Sean Walsh, the co-ordinator of the ranger program.“That strikes a chord with Girringun,” said Sean Walsh, the co-ordinator of the ranger program.
“They get to see that local knowledge and that empathy for the environment… That’s a really big success for Girringun.“They get to see that local knowledge and that empathy for the environment… That’s a really big success for Girringun.
“Behind the success is the foundation of Girringun, the foresight and the vision that the old people had from the very early beginning of it,” he told Guardian Australia.“Behind the success is the foundation of Girringun, the foresight and the vision that the old people had from the very early beginning of it,” he told Guardian Australia.
“Being able to see that through fruition and to completion, but also being able to adapt to the different skills and demands along the way. Everyone seems to want to be involved with Girringun these days. Being able to keep up with that is a big challenge.”“Being able to see that through fruition and to completion, but also being able to adapt to the different skills and demands along the way. Everyone seems to want to be involved with Girringun these days. Being able to keep up with that is a big challenge.”
The winner will be announced in Melbourne on 30 October.The winner will be announced in Melbourne on 30 October.
The reporter travelled as a guest of Reconciliation Australia.The reporter travelled as a guest of Reconciliation Australia.