KWAST Project Background

As a new Aboriginal ranger program, Njanjma Rangers is in a period of establishing work practices and systems to support its emerging land and heritage management programs. A core part of the tools for this is an integrated data management approach for all its activities across natural and cultural heritage and wellbeing components of the Njanjma program.  The overall information management system for Njanjma Rangers is being developed by Environmental Systems Solutions through funding provided by the NT Government.

The components for looking after bim are very important to Bininj and so we have sought funding to help put in place the rock art management parts of the system as a priority.

The data management system will assist in archival functions, monitoring, work planning and reporting and is being developed by Environmental Systems Solutions who are also centrally involved in the Kakadu Cultural Information Management System (CIMS).  As such, the Njanjma Rangers data management system will have considerable areas of synergy and compatibility with the Kakadu CIMS, but will incorporate other aspects that extend the functionality of various aspects of the system compared to that used in Kakadu.

An application to the Kakadu West Arnhem Social Trust was prepared for us by Stepwise Heritage and Tourism. We were successful in receiving funding for an initial year to demonstrate the capacity of the system. Stepwise is managing this project on our behalf.

Project objectives

The objectives of the project are to:

1. Develop the structure and methodology for a comprehensive management system for rock art sites in the Njanjma area of operations;
2. Develop data capture and management methods that link the bim work to an overall data management strategy for Njanjma Rangers;
3. Develop a ‘train the trainer’ approach focusing on building skills in Bim Management in a small group of identified Njanjma Rangers as Bim Team Leaders, and encouraging them to pass on their skills to other Njanjma Rangers and other Bininj;
4. Implement the management system with priority sites in the Manbiyarra area (East Alligator River rock art sites) on Manilikarr clan estate within Kakadu National Park and if time and conditions permit, extend this to Cannon Hill in Bunitj clan estate;
5. Provide data to Kakadu National Park for inclusion in the Kakadu Cultural Information Management System as a pilot for demonstrating the capacity of Njanjma Rangers to deliver services for cultural heritage management within their ranger program;
6. Develop a ‘Celebrate Rock Art’ day to build awareness, pride and respect for bim. Engage Bininj students in the work of rangers in looking after rock art as a part of the broader regional approach to health and wellbeing and school to work transition programs; and
7. Share the outcomes of the project with Kakadu National Park, other ranger groups and stakeholders in the West Arnhem Region at a workshop at the conclusion of the project to review learnings and future actions arising from the project.

Collaboration with Kakadu National Park

As part of the funding agreement with the Kakadu West Arnhem Social Trust, and under the restrictions for funding grants from the trust, the demonstration project is required to be undertaken within Kakadu National Park rather than other areas of Njanjma Rangers operations.

Kakadu National Park, which is included on the World Heritage List specifically for the outstanding universal values associated with rock art has an international responsibility under the World Heritage Convention for the maintenance and protection of rock art. Considering the international significance of the rock art, and the limits on resources allocated to rock art management within Kakadu National Park, this project offers an important opportunity for the Park to develop a relationship with a team of Bininj Rangers with external funding and advice support in relation to the area of the Park that fall within clan estates associated with Njanjma Rangers.

Project activities 2016

• Undertake consultations with traditional owners and Njanjma Rangers regarding concerns and priorities relating to care of bim.
• Set out the rock art management methodology and develop tools to support the management system, including field recording forms and visual application guides.
• Develop the training tools and method to support the management system including training modules and log book system.

Project activities 2017

• Identification of suitable Bininj Bim Team Leaders to commence the 'train the trainer' approach.
• Field trials of the management tools with Njanjma Rangers with a complete foot field survey within the Manbiyarra precinct of Kakadu National Park.
• Mentoring and training of Njanjma Bim Team Leaders to take primary carriage of Njanjma bim work.
• Additional consultation with Bunitj about extending the field trials to Cannon Hill.
• Development and hosting of an initial 'Celebrate Rock Art Day' as an educational activity targeted to Bininj youth to build their awareness and understanding of bim and the role of Njanjma Rangers in its care.
• Hold a one day workshop with regional Aboriginal ranger groups to review outcomes from the Demonstration Project and to discuss areas of collaboration and future actions arising from the Project.

Project personnel

All of the Njanjma Rangers will be involved in bim work in 2017. Rangers with a high level of interest and commitment to bim work will be selected as bim team leaders to provide supervision to other Bininj rangers.

 
​Nicholas Hall, Director of Stepwise Heritage and Tourism, has 20 years experience working in heritage conservation, land management, rock art management and tourism management at heritage sites around Australia and with Indigenous and local communities internationally. He holds qualifications in archaeology, heritage and environmental interpretation and rock art conservation. He is ucrrently completing a doctorate on the subject of participatory planning for tourism development in Indigenous communities. Nicholas has worked with various Njanjma clan members since 2004 on various projects including cultural heritage management and tourism development planning.

Tristen Jones is an Australian archaeology and cultural heritage practitioner with specialist rock art documentation, research and management experience. Tristen was the George Chaloupka Fellow with the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in 2014. She has worked with the Manilikarr clan for over five years and undertook her doctorate on the rock art of Manilikarr country. Tristen has worked with Njanjma Rangers since their inception.