A shared journey
We gratefully acknowledge Djaara (the Dja Dja Wurrung people), the Traditional Custodians of Djandak (Dja Dja Wurrung Country) in central Victoria, for over 14 years of partnership.
When Bruce Hammond first laid eyes on the Breakaways at Evelyn Downs, he saw more than a vista of striking escarpments above rocky plains. He saw an opportunity to support the protection of one of the most significant parcels of Country for Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara and Yankunytjatjara people.
– Bruce Hammond,“It’s an empowering space. It connects landscapes and communities all the way to Bon Bon Station Reserve, through the Breakaways and the back of Coober Pedy. It’s connected to nearly every family group in the region.”
Evelyn Downs made Bush Heritage history as our organisation’s largest acquisition to date. At around 235,000 hectares, it contributes 20% towards the goal of doubling our network of reserves by 2030.
It also establishes 1.9 million hectares of protected land by bordering the Mount Willoughby Indigenous Protected Area, which is adjacent to Tallaringa Conservation Park. But before we acquired the property for conservation, we connected with its Traditional Custodians.
“We engaged with honesty and high integrity about wanting to acquire the land and began building relationships from there.”
Bruce is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnership Manager for South Australia and has many connections to the local communities. In those early conversations, it was his role to introduce people to Bush Heritage – the staff, organisation, right-way approach and vision.
“But most importantly, we listened to their aspirations,” he says. “Because at the heart of the right-way approach is listening.”
Image Information
Bruce Hammond (and Graeme Finlayson in the background) at Evelyn Downs. Photo Annette Ruzicka.
The community was supportive of the acquisition. And since then, Traditional Custodians and our staff have been out to Evelyn Downs together, instigating cultural surveys and discussing synergies in land management to find space for Traditional land management practices and Western science to work together.
The team has also begun work on a planning structure that honours Traditional wisdom and is supported by Bush Heritage methods.
In the long term, and with ongoing support, Bruce envisions an evolving partnership through which the community, including young people and rangers, are able to get back on Country.
– Bruce Hammond,“We’re walking the walk at Evelyn Downs. By having relationships built on equity, integrity and listening, we can ensure the partnership continues to evolve in the ‘right-way’ for people and Country.”
Partnerships like this are significant locally – and globally. Over 195 countries (including Australia) have commitments to protect at least 30% of land and waters by the end of the decade. This is the minimum that scientists warn will be needed to halt the dual environmental crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, which threaten all life on Earth.
To do this, we need to work alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who hold unequivocal knowledge of the ecosystems they are connected to.
“This is a really important place. There’s a lot of Tjukurrpa, a lot of stories running through it, and ancestral commitments to caring for Country. So, to be able to honour that importance and put Traditional Custodians at the forefront has been one of my proudest moments.”
