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Since time immemorial, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been collecting and protecting data. Detailed information about their lands, skies and waters is etched into Songlines, stories, ceremonies and art. 

This forms part of an intricate knowledge system that is built on principles of reciprocity, respect, and learning. It connects different systems to benefit people and Country. 

In today’s data-driven world, preserving and securing cultural knowledge faces new and big challenges. Governments and intergovernmental bodies have struggled to create culturally responsive programs, putting First Nations knowledge at risk. The financial, technical and property requirements for this data complicate the issue even more. 

Conservation Futures is a project group taking action to safeguard First Nations knowledge in an appropriate and useful way. 

It's a collaboration between Bush Heritage Australia, The University of Melbourne, and other partners, and is led by Bundjalung man Oliver Costello, Olkola man John Pender and Olkola woman Joanne Griffin. 

John sees this project as a way to address the modern challenge of knowledge transfer, particularly as younger generations are moving away from Traditional learning environments. “The new problem is that the future emerging knowledge holders are leaving Country. As soon as kids can leave their remote communities, they jump on the bus and they’re out of there,” John says. “They’re not sitting around the fire anymore with their parents, with their uncles, with their cousins and talking. That’s where knowledge transfer traditionally happened: we sit down and we tell stories."

"Now, the younger generation is playing with technology. And, as humans, we have to walk hand in hand with technology.” 

The Integrated Knowledge System is a digital platform created by Conservation Futures to create a safe space to securely contain and manage knowledge about Country. Importantly, through this platform, Traditional Custodians are in control of who can access their knowledge and oversee that it’s used the right way. 

Integrated Knowledge System demonstration, generously hosted by
Jagun Alliance and partners, Bundjalung Country, NSW. By Peter Frare.
Image Information
Integrated Knowledge System demonstration, generously hosted by Jagun Alliance and partners, Bundjalung Country, NSW. By Peter Frare.

For Oliver, the system helps to emphasise the importance of protocols in sharing cultural knowledge, ensuring its correct and respectful use. 

“Cultural knowledge by default is shared – that’s how it exists,” says Oliver. “But in cultural practices, there are different levels of understanding because of their pathway of learning and being able to use the information. Protocols are critical for understanding how to use knowledge in the right way.” 

The system adheres to Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Indigenous Data Governance principles, wherein knowledge is collected, stored, shared and used according to its owner. This means decisions about natural resources, planning, and development are informed by appropriately stored and accessed data.

After a history of laws and policies that threatened to destroy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in Australia, the Integrated Knowledge System also aims to rebuild trust in knowledge sharing. 

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have had their knowledge taken, used and abused for a long time. So this is about reconciliation, but it’s also a genuine attempt to try and make better decisions on Country by recognising the value of Traditional knowledge,” says Dr Rebecca Spindler, Bush Heritage Executive Manager for Science and Conservation. 

For John, the project is a continuation of Traditional practices. “Tech is supposed to be so logical, but if you know how to look at nature, you’ll see it is just as logical,” says John. “It might appear to be two worlds, but I actually think if you look at it closely, it’s the same thing. It’s input and output. I was fortunate to gather knowledge from my grandfather, and I’ll upload that into the system. I’m hoping that, down the line, another 10 generations from now, everyone in my family that is a descendant of my grandfather will be able to listen to his voice.” 

The Conservation Futures team are continuing to improve the system’s user experience and complete case studies with Traditional Custodians interested in the project. They're also seeking funding to further enhance the system’s security, potentially through blockchain technology. 

“The Integrated Knowledge System allows us to learn from the stories of our Elders – how they built economies and kinships. It can help us understand the benefits of Country, eating locally, reducing water use, pesticides and clearing,” Oliver says. 

“Building that knowledge into our decision making can not only repair people and heal people but heal Country as well, and fundamentally help us make decisions that are going to put us in good stead for generations to come.”

Conservation Futures is a collaboration across sectors and organisations, including The University of Melbourne, Bush Heritage Australia, Jagun Alliance, The University of Queensland, The Ian Potter Foundation, The Hermon Slade Foundation, CSIRO, the Victorian Government Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Natural Resource Management (NRM) Regions Australia, The Nature Conservancy and The Australian Conservation Foundation.