The journal Wildlife Research, published by CSIRO, has just announced a new special collection dedicated to Indigenous and cross-cultural wildlife research in Australia. The collection provides an important platform to showcase Indigenous led research from across the country. It emphasises the critical role that Indigenous knowledge and perspectives play in developing sustainable and culturally appropriate methods for the management of the natural environment.
Dr Jack Pascoe, a Yuin man, Biodiversity Council Co-Chief Councillor, and one of the editors of the special collection, describes the research as harnessing a ‘right-way’ science approach. A respectful way of blending Indigenous knowledge approaches with methodologies used in western science.
The collection features a wide variety of Australian based research, including the weaving of roosting habitat for threatened bat species on Gumbaynggirr Country in NSW, and fire-management programs guided by traditional fire practices for desert animals in northern WA, led by Karajarri and Ngurrara Rangers.
Key themes
In a Biodiversity Council video, Dr Pascoe explains how the collection is steered by three core themes. Firstly, there is what Jack described as “putting Country first”, involving assertions from mob about their way in which they plan to care for Country. Secondly, many of the projects demonstrated the opportunities for non-indigenous researchers to work with Indigenous groups, one example he gave was the access mob have given to researchers to conduct their work on the large territories that Indigenous people are responsible for. Finally, and perhaps the most important message, safeguarding the work being undertaken to both be respectful and reciprocal.
These approaches, are ensuring healthy partnerships that are built upon respect for culture, understanding the cultural obligations to care for Country and incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge.
Takeaways
A major outcome of this approach has been the fair representation of Indigenous voices throughout the research process from inception to publication. The co-development of methodologies, publishing together, and co-presenting the findings between Mob and non-indigenous researchers is being welcomed as standard practice. Overall, the collection is an essential shift that ensures Indigenous researchers and knowledge holders are recognised for their leadership in caring for Country.
Links:
See the special collection here
This article was written by Campbell Goff, the Healthy Ecosystems Project Officer with the Nature Conservation Council of NSW
Image source: CSIRO Logo – CSIRO
