Turraburra, also known as Gracevale Station, is home to the Iningai People, occupying 8,870 hectares of traditional lands. Since reclaiming ownership of their traditional lands, Iningai are dedicated to restoring their land, culture, and heritage, with a strong focus on achieving environmental and economic sustainability in the face of climate change.
A long-time aspiration for Iningai mob is to document and preserve their cultural knowledge. Recently, in late September - early October Iningai traditional custodians, Gerry, Siobhan, Nyoka, and PhD student Felix, were invited to Iningai country to collect medicinal plants and document other native species. For Siobhan, Nyoka, and Felix, this was their first visit, filled with excitement.
PRESERVATION
Iningai mob are passionate advocates for the voices of their elders and are committed to addressing environmental concerns. Their initiatives have led to the establishment of the Yumbangku Aboriginal Cultural Heritage & Tourism Development Aboriginal Corporation (YACHATDAC), aimed at protecting and preserving cultural heritage and caring for the land.
Documenting knowledge such as traditional plant knowledge and medicine plants are vital in how Iningai mob are caring for their country, through their observations and environmental indicators. When out and about conducting plant collections, Iningai Custodian Suzanne observed that certain plants were showing indicators at the wrong time of the year, raising concerns that may relate to climate change. This highlights the importance of why Iningai are so dedicated and committed to sharing cultural knowledge and traditional values with tourists, and other visitors for future generations, to educate the importance of environmental impacts and sustainable practices.
An exciting project that Suzanne is currently working on involves propagating native plants endemic to their country. We spent a day collecting plant specimens, seeds, and cuttings for Suzanne’s DIY bush nursery. Amongst the collected plants were bush cucumbers [being trialled alongside two commercial species], Pink Desert Heathers, and Acacia’s, other plant species Susan are trialling are the Cabbage Palm trees, Dwarf Wattles, and some of Australia favourite garden plants like Geraldton Wax and Kangaroo Paws.
OBSERVATION
Turraburra is the most beautiful Central Western Queensland’s country. During our field trip, we encountered a remarkable diversity of native wildlife, including both Eastern-grey and Red kangaroo’s, native frogs, , Emu’s, Wedge-tail eagle, station Cattles, and Pest Toads, and the abundance of bush tucker and medicine plants.
THE FUTURE
Iningai mob commitment to their land and culture is truly inspiring. Their efforts to document and preserve traditional knowledge shows in their efforts, resilience and dedication to cultural heritage and environmental ownership. Through their initiatives, they have shown how they can effectively address modern contemporary challenges, such as climate change, and how to effectively act on sustainability practices that honour both the environment and ancestral wisdoms. Turraburra stands as a model for integrating cultural and ecological preservation.
By TIEC TEAM.
TURRABURRA, ININGAI COUNTRY, FIELD TRIP 2024.
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