In 2018, Ngurrara wound up a three and a half year 2-way learning project with Shell Australia. The project involved measuring water quality and quantity in the Canning Basin and focused on pairing traditional knowledge about water (through tracing the living water in paintings and gathering stories from Ngurrara elders) with Western scientific knowledge.

The project was a phenomenal success. It involved 5 back to country trips, with over 100 students from five schools participating in on-country activities. Through water monitoring and engaging with Ngurrara rangers and Ngurrara Traditional Owners, these students were able to build their maths and science skills, as well as their employability skills.

Yanunijarra’s CEO, Peter Murray, said all parties involved in the project benefited from the 2-way learning approach. ‘Rangers benefited from the Western science methodology of water monitoring and stakeholders benefitted from the cultural education and the awareness of how important jilas and jumus are. Ngurrara people and school kids were exposed to this interface and were able to spend time on country with their elders, participating in this knowledge transfer.’

Karen Yungabun was the 2-way learning officer and she loved seeing the rangers engage with the students. ‘It was so good to see the rangers teaching the kids - they’re really good at it!’

There have also been a range of scientific benefits of the project, including findings which will help shape the way we continue to look after country. Our rangers and Traditional Owners have developed an understanding of the scientific links between jila and jumu. This understanding complements our cultural knowledge. We’ve also gained a better understanding of why some lakes are drying up for the first time in traditional memory - there’s evidence that climate change is causing this. We’ve established a water monitoring program and our rangers gained qualifications in the sampling and testing of water. Through the life of the project, almost all of our rangers successfully completed a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management.

Local stakeholders were also pleased to be part of the project. Adelaide Ford, a former primary school teacher at Djugerari Remote Community School, said, ‘The on-country learning, such as cultural camps to Kurlku in the Great Sandy Desert, has provided students with highly engaging and culturally relevant learning opportunities.’

Yanunijarra would like to thank Shell Australia and our community for the fantastic support throughout the life of the project.