A new project to map significant cultural sites and values on Tati Tati Country along the Murray River was officially launched today.
Funded by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH), the project supports Indigenous organisation Tati Tati Kaiejin to research and develop a cultural mapping methodology for Tati Tati Country.
Tati Tati Kaiejin Director Brendan Kennedy invited CEWH Dr Simon Banks to join him on Tati Tati Country at Robinvale this week to see firsthand some of the vital work that will be undertaken as part of the project.
"Cultural mapping will support Tati Tati Kaiejin to record our cultural sites and knowledge in ways which we determine," Mr Kennedy said.
"We will be developing a cultural mapping methodology for Tati Tati Country with members of the Tati Tati community. A research team from the University of Melbourne is supporting us with this project.
"This knowledge can then be shared with environmental water managers to influence environmental watering decisions."
Mr Kennedy said Tati Tai Kaiejin hopes that the cultural mapping tool that they developed will inspire other Traditional Owner groups to develop their own.
"Our aim is for the tool to show other mobs across the Murray-Darling Basin the potential to lead cultural mapping so that First Nations' knowledge can be included in the planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of water for the environment."
CEWH Dr Simon Banks welcomed the official start of the project.
"This partnership is an important step forward to build a stronger understanding and respect for Traditional Owner knowledge and values," Dr Banks said.
"Through this research, we will learn more about the knowledge of Tati Tati people and how they have cared for their Country and waterways.
"I am excited to see how the cultural mapping tool evolves so it can used to inform and influence our work both here in this part of the Murray and beyond."
