Wagiman Guwardagun graduates
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One of the largest graduations of Indigenous rangers took place
this year, 32 Northern Territory Indigenous rangers graduated from
Charles Darwin University in May.
The rangers successfully completed their studies and received
certificates in Resource Management. The group included 12 Wagiman
Guwardagun rangers based in Pine Creek, 17 ‘Djelk’
rangers from Maningrida and three Mimal rangers from the Bulman,
Weemol area.
VET resource management lecturer and coordinator David Wise said
the course had been developed in conjunction with the Larrakia
Nation Aboriginal Corporation, the Bawinanga Aboriginal
Corporation, the NT Primary Industry Training Council and the
Northern Land Council.
“It contains many units of particular relevance to remote
Indigenous people managing natural and cultural resources,”
he said. “These units recognise Indigenous knowledge of land
management, history culture which are not available in any other
course.
“The Wagiman people have lands in the upper Daly River region
and want to have an integrated land management program which
involves pastoral enterprise such as cattle and ongoing weed and
feral animal control.”
David also said the Djelk ranger program at Maningrida was one of
the NT’s longest running and most successful Indigenous
ranger programs and had been associated with the university for a
decade.
