Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) rangers have wowed audiences with an award-winning presentation at the recent national Ecological Society of Australia Conference in Naarm (Melbourne).
Rangers shared knowledge all the way from Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) with more than 1400 domestic and international delegates including ecologists, land managers, rangers and Traditional Owners.
Their presentation about biodiversity surveys on Badu Island – which highlighted the value of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to guide western science – received a Highly Commended award for ‘right-way’ science.
Rangers combined their local, traditional knowledge along with master’s level university training in wildlife surveys to record more than 80 species.
TSRA Ranger Supervisor on Badu, Laurie Nona, said the recent surveys on Badu were ‘right-way science’ in action.
“To witness traditional knowledge and western science collaborating for the common good, and to understand the importance and strength of these two cultures aligning to deliver outcomes for our people in biodiversity – that is what we call ‘right-way science’,” Mr Nona said.
Right-way science is often also called “two-way science” or “cross-cultural science”.
TSRA Environmental Management Program Manager Billie Roberts said right-way science recognised the deep and enduring connections First Nations scientists have to Land and Sea Country.
“We’re focusing on empowering local communities and our staff, this starts from on-the-ground training through to university-level courses and valuing traditional knowledge,” Dr Roberts said.
This project also highlighted TSRA’s commitment to closing the gap targets for First Nations people to maintain a distinctive cultural, spiritual, physical and economic relationship with their land.
About TSRA’s Environmental Management program and rangers
TSRA’s Environmental Management Program – delivered by its Land and Sea Management Unit – supports job opportunities for local people to combine traditional knowledge and western science to care for land, sea and culture, including as rangers.
The TSRA Rangers started in 2009 with one ranger group on Mabuiag and has grown to 13 Ranger groups across 14 Torres Strait communities (13 islands).
About TSRA
Located in the nation’s far north, TSRA is one of the most remote federal government agencies and supports programs across the region, including for 17 inhabited islands of the Torres Strait and the communities of Bamaga and Seisia on the Northern Peninsula Area of mainland Australia.
Established on 1 July 1994, TSRA is a statutory body and the lead Commonwealth agency in the Torres Strait for Indigenous Affairs, operating under the direction of a community-elected board.
The Torres Strait stretches 150 kilometres northwards from Cape York Peninsula to Papua New Guinea. The 48,000 km² area includes more than 270 islands and reefs.
