We come together to work on country
The Murujuga Rangers are supported by the Australian Government, Woodside and Rio Tinto to manage and protect the National Heritage listed Burrup Peninsula in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The Dampier Archipelago (including Burrup Peninsula) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia is nationally recognised for the extraordinary extent, diversity and significance of its Aboriginal rock engravings.
At the time of National Heritage listing in 2007, the Australian Government entered into two separate conservation agreements with Woodside and Rio Tinto to deliver benefits for the conservation of the national heritage values. The agreements fund projects to identify, transmit, manage and research the national heritage values.
Much of this effort is to strengthen the management capacity of the local Indigenous ranger programme, the ‘Murujuga Rangers’, and to support the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation in the management of their cultural heritage.
The Murujuga ranger programme works ensures that country is cared for, family and community relationships are maintained, local businesses can grow to provide social, cultural and economic benefits and culture and heritage are transmitted to current and future generations.
The programme currently employs eight rangers and training is underway for the nationally accredited ‘Conservation and Land Management Certificate II’. The course has undergone a cultural review process initiated by Murujuga in order to adapt the learning outcomes and process of delivery to their lore and cultural requirements. The training will integrate traditional and modern methods of managing country and enhance future employment prospects for the rangers.
In addition to employment and training opportunities in heritage conservation and management, the daily practice of coming together to work on country is a strong reinforcement of interdependence and common social purpose.
In only its third year of operation the programme has already developed into a demonstration of community cohesion, which is reflected in the ranger’s central theme: ngayintharri gumawarni ngurrangka – we come together to work on country.
The rangers’ belief is “if you look after country, country will look after you.”
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The Murujuga Rangers are supported by the Australian Government, Woodside and Rio Tinto to manage and protect the Burrup Peninsula in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The national heritage management principles, which are enshrined in regulations, recognise that Indigenous people are the primary source of information on the value of their heritage and that the active participation of Indigenous people is integral to the effective management of Indigenous heritage values.