Natasha “Mungumurru” Nadji

Bunitj Clan

Cannon Hill – Alligator Rivers clans

Gagadju People of Kakadu

• In the 70’s my grandfather and other senior TO’s agreed on a conservation and land management programme to happen in Gagadju country in Kakadu National Park • Joint management and consultation started in 1979 • Formalised in 1989 with the appointment and creation of a Kakadu National Park Board of Management Committee •14 members on the Kakadu BOM with 10 members being TO’s or TO appointments •This was done to ensure joint management is legally carried out between TO’s and DNP (Director)

• BOM was very important for my grandfather and other Gagudju People •Gave him and his family hope that we would have a genuine say in managing and looking after our country • Many good things have come with joint management, but some issues still need fixing, and it has created other issues that need fixing as well.

•Working together with parks to maintain a clean healthy country. This is very important to Gagudju People, especially TO’s • Working with the next generation, too ensure knowledge is also passed down • Monitoring and aiding visitors on country, with surveys and data collection

• Some times we struggle getting younger generations out on country, we are continually competing with alcohol and drugs, and other social impacts and issues • We sometimes have trouble with employment because of education levels; on country they are very capable, with paper work we struggle

“Crocodiles very important to us, a very important totem animal, we must look after midnyidj” _ Jonathan Nadji, Bunidj / Gagudju

•Maintaining joint partnership with understanding and respect both ways • Teaching & educating kids and people from other places about our culture is very important to us, so they can enjoy this country safely and respectfully • Tourism management is a huge focus cause it helps to better inform people of our living heritage •Gives others the opportunity to share culture, and help keep this knowledge alive for the next generations

• Maintaining joint partnership with understanding and respect both ways. • Teaching & educating kids and people from other places about our culture is very important to us, so they can enjoy this country safely and respectfully. • Tourism management is a huge focus cause it helps to better inform people of our living heritage, giving others the opportunity to share culture, and help keep this knowledge alive for the next generations.

•Parks Australia weeds staff do a very important and successful job in looking after our country • Parks often consult with TOs on problem areas and organise management of weeds • Feral animals are always an issue for our floodplains, buffaloes, pig, horse, cattle can create large amounts of damage to the natural habitat for native animals, plants and country • The benefit for looking after these beautiful floodplains is the great hunting for turtle and magpie geese the family get to enjoy!!!! •The other big benefit is our native species can survive and thrive on our well looked after wetland areas •Clean and healthy floodplains, healthy country and healthy coastal areas is very important to all people, especially Gagudju People or Alligator Rivers People

We need to work together to look after country and culture I am sure we can ensure a better future for us all to live. Joint management is still an ongoing experiment, some aspects are very good: •Mimosa Control •Weed management •Crocodile management •Some areas of compliance •Some areas of general maintenance of visitor areas

We need to work together to look after country and culture I am sure we can ensure a better future for us all to live. Joint management is still an ongoing experiment, some things are very good (Mimosa Control, weed management, crocodile management, compliance and some areas of general maintenance of visitor areas). But other areas need to be done better, we have people visiting the more remote areas of our park and taking risks and not respecting our country.

With more people visiting other areas of our country, like coastal and rivers, we need more resources to deal with these issues, especially commercial fishing and fishing tour operators

But sadly some other areas of joint management need a big improvement: •Proper consultation with joint management

All stakeholders including: •The NT Government •The Northern Land Council •Commonwealth Government

They need to start listening more and give us more of a say in how we run our country, we have been ignored and left out too many times on many issues affecting our land, and stakeholders need to talk to the proper traditional owners, this is now critical and needs fixing • like genuine employment and capacity building of our people

On behalf of the Bunidj Clan, my Gagudju elders and family I would like to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent my family and country

We are joint partners for managing our country which is Gagudju Land or land of the Alligator People Thank you for listening to our story today