Namultja Aboriginal Corporation – working together with partners from strength to strength
In September this year, Namultja Aboriginal Corporation hosted its first on Country meeting, bringing together Marra families from a range of communities to Limmen Bight Fishing Camp. The successful event hosting around 60 attendees was supported through a partnership with NT Parks and Wildlifeand the Parks Australia North Marine Parks Network.
The Northern Territory and Australian governments are working with Marra through a partnership to improve Sea Country management in the Northern Territory. The goal is to establish a framework for Traditional Owner-led Sea Country Management in regions where Sea Country overlaps with Territory and Commonwealth parks, as it does in the Limmen region.
The partnership is multifaceted, supporting Marra in aspects of governance, communications, capacity building research and monitoring and implementing management actions, all of which support the broader implementation of their Land and Sea Country Plan.
As a part of the capacity building, Marra people have established their representative voice, Namultja Aboriginal Corporation. This year the young corporation recruited their CEO, Liam Golding, submitted an application to the Indigenous Ranger Program to establish their ranger group and now have successfully brought families together, in their first on Country meeting since inception.
The meeting covered several topics, with the first day focused on zoning and management areas in Sea Country. This was a result of numerous consultations with individual families to understand what the important areas to Marra people are and what sort of rules they would like to see for these areas. For example, restricted access, transit only or permit only. This was an opportunity to report back as a group on the consultation process and to sense check the resulting maps and recommendations with Marra aspirations.
The second day focused on communications, both from a governance perspective, as well as exploring the key messages Marra people want to convey to visitors to their country. The end result of the governance session was an in-principle framework of Namultja’s role, both in representing Marra people to external partners and stakeholders, as well as the internal aspects of good governance, in how they effectively represent Marra families.
A brainstorming session on key messages for visitors on how to look after Marra Country when visiting resulted in the beginnings of a code of conduct, with next steps to start drafting some examples for further feedback. There were additional guest speakers to talk with families including archaeologist Dr. Liam Brady from Flinders University, Bo Carne from the Aboriginal Seafood Company and Kirsten Laughler from the Northern Land Council’s community projects team. All these speakers provided excellent food for thought on opportunities for Marra to get back on Country, explore various community development projects as well as consider different economic opportunities.
Another exciting highlight of the meeting was having some of the Li-Anthawirriyarra Sea Rangers from Borroloola, Yugul Mangi Rangers from Ngukurr and the Numbulwar Numburindi Rangers attend. There was a great camaraderie between all of the ranger groups and a strong desire to work together for the protection of Sea Country in the Gulf of Carpentaria as the Marranbala Rangers become more established.
Despite a lot of content there was also time to just enjoy being on Country, visiting special places and fishing, reconnecting with family and friends and making new connections. The week wrapped up on a high of enthusiasm with a goal to maintain the momentum created during the week. The next months are important for Namultja to increase their profile and visibility of their work at conferences and in the media, as well as planning with partners for 2025.
The meeting wouldn’t have been possible without collaboration from Namultja Aboriginal Corporation, NT Parks and Wildlife, Parks Australia North Marine Parks Network, Charles Darwin University, Northern Land Council, North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance, all the ranger groups, Gecko Canoeing and Trekking and Bodhi Bus for catering and transport, and the Barrett family for hosting everyone. This again reinforces a fundamental principle of the Marranbala Land and Sea Country Plan, that together we are stronger.
