Often Aboriginal engagement is seen as a legal obligation to fulfil in order to get land access approvals, however by building genuine relationships through partnerships, there can be so many more benefits realised, not the least of which, are amazing scientific insights.
Building trust and respect between Government scientists and Traditional Owners is not always easy. Engaging early, tailoring your approach, and being open and honest are keys to success. However, involving Traditional Owners in the research, working side by side, is where the best benefits come from.
Recent examples from the Kimberley Region of Western Australia demonstrate the impressive scientific contribution Traditional Owners have made in groundwater investigations, from identifying groundwater dependent ecosystems, defining gaining reaches of rivers, as well at siting bores to intersect paleochannels. The logistical support and local knowledge of tracks and conditions also significantly benefits our work. This input has saved time and money, and lead to much better outcomes overall. With the final result being a shared understanding of how the system functions, as well as greater uptake and acceptance of the management strategies.