HCHB and SaWH cultural immersion sessions
In July, the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) took part in two meaningful cultural immersion sessions with Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation and First Nations of the South East community members, providing engaging opportunities for staff from the Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin (HCHB) and Shorebird and Wetland Habitat (SaWH) programs to learn directly from Traditional Owners.
The sessions, held at Mt Burr Swamp in the lower South East, provided valuable insights into how First Nations Cultural knowledge, developed over thousands of years through an enduring relationship with Country, continues to guide the care and sustainable management of land, water, plants, wildlife and people.
Participants also learned about the development of a Healthy Country Plan, which brings together cultural knowledge, community priorities and seasonal planning to care for Country, ensuring that cultural values, natural resources and traditional knowledge are protected, strengthened and passed on to future generations.
A key focus of the sessions was the South East First Nations seasonal calendar, which reflects the deep connection between Traditional Owners and the environment. Unlike a standard four-season calendar, the First Nations calendar recognises 6 distinct seasons based on careful observation of changes in plants, animals, weather patterns and the landscape. These seasonal indicators have guided cultural practices, harvesting, land management and the care of ecosystems for countless generations.
Each of the sessions also explored how South East First Nations knowledge continues to endure and adapt, despite the significant landscape changes that have occurred since European settlement, including large-scale wetland drainage, extensive land clearing, altered fire regimes, introduction of plant and animal species and changes to waterways. These changes transformed many natural systems that Traditional Owners have cared for over thousands of years, disrupted cultural practices and affected traditional seasonal indicators that guide the care of Country. Despite this, South East First Nations knowledge continues to provide an essential foundation for healing and restoring Country, while informing contemporary land and water management.
Attendees gained a greater appreciation of the intrinsic connection between cultural knowledge and ecological understanding, and the important role it plays in protecting biodiversity and maintaining healthy landscapes. Discussions highlighted the importance of working together, using both First Nations knowledge and contemporary science to restore ecosystems, strengthen cultural connections and support sustainable land and water management.
The cultural immersion session was an engaging and educational experience that encouraged participants to reflect on the importance of respecting First Nations knowledge, strengthening cultural understanding and recognising the enduring connection between First Nations peoples and Country.
HCHB and SaWH staff are looking forward to continuing to work with Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation and South East First Nations communities to support practical and meaningful approaches to healing Country, caring for the environment and deepening understanding of Aboriginal culture, history and living traditions.
Find out more
Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin
- Website - www.environment.sa.gov.au/coorong
- Email - Healthy.Coorong@sa.gov.au
Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin is jointly funded by the Australian Government and the Government of South Australia to improve the ecology, knowledge and management of the Coorong.
Shorebird and Wetland Habitat
- Website - www.environment.sa.gov.au/SaWH
- Email - dew.ShorebirdsAndWetlands@sa.gov.au
The Shorebird and Wetland Habitat program is funded by the Australian Government and delivered by the Government of South Australia to enhance the quality and availability of shorebird habitat and wetland ecosystems across the Coorong, Lower Lakes, Murray Mouth and South East regions of South Australia.
