A sign dedicated to recognising and honouring the many Traditional Owner groups across the vast Lake Eyre Basin region has been unveiled in Longreach, during National Reconciliation Week.
The sign is one of many to be erected around the basin, showing a map, as well as featuring song lines, historical trade routes and other cultural information about the Basin, which is home to 71 indigenous language groups.
Queensland Minister for Water Glenn Butcher said the signs were an important tool to not only recognise the groups and honour their presence, but to also educate the thousands of visitors to the region about the many different first nations peoples from the region.
"Queensland is home to the nation's second largest population of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people, the world's oldest continuous living culture, and it's important we recognise First Nations people who have been here for thousands of years.
"Our state is enriched by the cultures, knowledge and contributions of First Nations people who have occupied and cared for this continent for more than 65,000 years."
The Aboriginal Way Map is the culmination of 12 years of consultation. It has been an initiative of the Intergovernmental Lake Eyre Basin program, which brings together community, scientific and government representatives to coordinate management of the waterways that flow across State and Territory borders into Lake Eyre.
"This project has been many years in the making and we're thrilled to be able to officially unveil these signs during National Reconciliation Week," Mr Butcher said.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Craig Crawford, congratulated all parties for coming together to see this important project come to fruition.
"This year's National Reconciliation Week theme asks us all to be brave, and make change," Mr Crawford said.
"It takes courage to speak the truth about history, but that honesty is fundamental to creating a new way for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and non-Indigenous peoples to work together as equals, with mutual respect."
One of Queensland's indigenous interest representatives on the Lake Eyre Basin Community Advisory Committee, George Gorringe said the signs were a way to keep the past alive and educate younger generations about the Aboriginal history and connection to the region.
"These signs, which don't recognise state borders, show how First Nations communities went about their business, conducting trade and travelling around the Lake Eyre Basin," Mr Gorringe said.
"It's been an educational experience, even for us as First Nations people. We are continuing to learn about our own traditions and histories," he said.
"Also, people may be interested to know that rather than the four seasons we commonly know today, First Nations people had more seasons to explain their own understanding of weather and patterns."
An Aboriginal Way Map sign has also been erected in Winton, with one more planned for Birdsville.
