People gather for ‘river yarns’
Anew
water project documenting Aboriginal history and the cultural values of the Wimmera River has started this week with ‘Community Gathering – River Yarns’.
Five days of workshops and site visits involving traditional owners, Aboriginal and community groups, historical societies and local and state government representatives started in Horsham on Monday.
River Yarns then followed the Wimmera River to Dimboola yesterday and will move on to Antwerp and Jeparit before continuing to Lake Hindmarsh, Outlet Creek and Lake Albacutya.
The group is visiting historical sites as well as recording cultural use of plants and bush medicine.
Guest speakers will include archaeologist Abby Cooper, Wimmera River Improvement Committee chairman Gary Aitken, long-time Wimmera bird monitoring expert Jonathan Starks and Daniel Clarke from Aboriginal Victoria.
Wimmera Catchment Management Authority and Barengi Gadjin Land Council are co-ordinating the week in partnership with Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations.
River Yarns is part of the Wimmera River Aboriginal Water Project, which brings together local groups and individuals to officially document cultural information in the region using an Aboriginal Waterway Assessment tool.
Ben Muir and Brett Harrison are leading the project.
Wimmera CMA chief executive David Brennan said River Yarns was mapping cultural sites and artefacts as well as identifying project and economic development opportunities.
“By supporting the Aboriginal community in documenting cultural values, stories, memories and how they feel connected to the river, this project aims to also create economic opportunities now and for future generations,” he said.
River Yarns also builds on themes and partnerships promoted during Cultural Diversity Week activities in the Wimmera.
Australian author Bruce Pascoe spoke to a crowd of more than 250 in Horsham Town Hall last week for a Wimmera Landcare Harmony Day event.
“This is such an important point in Australia’s history,” Mr Pascoe said.
“It seems like people are more interested in their own country and interested in looking after it. It makes me feel more confident about the future when Australians are finally starting to listen to the earth. We need to treat the earth like Australia, not Kent in England.
“Aboriginal people feel like we can’t miss this opportunity to start this discussion with our country.”
• The State Government Water for Victoria program, aimed at increasing the involvement of Aboriginal communities in water-resource decision making, is funding the Wimmera River Aboriginal Water Project.