Pudja Barunga and Janet Oobagooma enjoying the trip
Photo:Tom Vigilante
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Mayala, Dambimangari, Uunguu and Balanggarra Traditional Owners of
the North Kimberley coast have been doing sea trips in 2005 as part
of the Saltwater Country Project.
By Tom Vigilante
Elders were keen to get back to country to teach young people the
stories for places and to keep an eye on developments on the coast.
For many people it was their first time seeing their country.
Everyone was concerned about the number of charter tourist boats
visiting places without permission.
There are also lots of new pearl farms and other commercial
ventures starting up.
The Saltwater Country Project is about making a sea country plan
that covers all of the important places and issues. This includes
getting sea ranger programs started.
Funding comes from the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) and the project
is coordinated by the Kimberley Land Council’s Land & Sea
Unit and the Department of Indigenous Affairs.
