TWO Kuku-Thaypan Elders, George Musgrave (Snr) and Tommy George
(Snr) pictured right, were awarded doctorates from James Cook
University in May, 2005. Dr George Musgrave and Dr Tommy George are
Senior Elders of the Kuku-Thaypan clan and are the only two holders
of their traditional knowledge and are fluent in the Kuku-Thaypan
language.
Drs George and Musgrave were both born on their country in the
North West region of Lakefield National Park, or what is
traditionally known as Kuku-Thaypan country.
Tommy is the younger of the two at 78; George is 85. George and
Tommy can always be found ‘on country’ working to
teach, demonstrate and mentor Indigenous and non-Indigenous people
to look after the country in the traditional way.
During the time when police and trackers took Aboriginal children
away from their families and placed them in missions under the
‘Aboriginal Protection Act’, the Elders (then boys)
were able to remain on country by being hidden in mailbags by the
station owner, Fredrick Sheppard, whom they had worked for since
the age of 10.
They avoided becoming part of the Stolen Generation and were able
to stay on country with their family and learn about the
significant Indigenous knowledge system of the Kuku-Thaypan people.
They learnt traditional law and language, management practices of
their country and how to live off the land.
After working on stations, George was recruited by the police force
as a tracker. He had intricate knowledge of the area and helped
police find lost tourists and missing children. He also helped to
capture criminals and locate drug crops.
Tommy became head ranger of his homelands using Aboriginal land
management practices to manage the Park. Both he and George are
working as self-appointed care-takers of Lakefield National Park in
the hope of realising their life-long ambitions of country being
run in a sustainable way under traditional land, water and natural
resource management practices.
A great number of linguists, anthropologist, ecological
researchers, botanists and social researchers have had their
careers launched from the knowledge passed on by Tommy and George
and other Indigenous Elders. They are involved in a Traditional
Knowledge Recording Project (TKRP) in collaboration with Balkanu
Cape York Development Corporation. The project, which has been
running for three years, records all aspects of their language and
culture, from fire, land and water management, to Indigenous
medicines, uses for flora and fauna and how it all inter-relates.
The doctorates recognise their traditional knowledge, contributions
to research, and their role in maintaining a significant Indigenous
cultural system and its survival for future generations by way of
the TKRP. To celebrate Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation
and the Traditional Knowledge Recording Project also hosted a
family day at Munro Park, featuring Indigenous music, dancers, food
stalls and guest speakers.
Article courtesy of Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation and
Savanna Links,
newsletter of the Tropical Savannas CRC.
