Nyamal Rangers

There have been lots of changes to Country since colonisation and we know that pastoralism, fire, ferals and weeds have all impacted native animals. The Nyamal Rangers are already working to monitor and understand more about our important and threatened fauna.

Our program places a strong emphasis on collaborative learning and strengthening our relationships with land managers and other stakeholders. Combining Indigenous knowledge and western science is a high priority for the management of our Country. Nyamal Rangers are already involved in some collaboration with scientists and these relationships have proven highly valuable. We believe that these relationships will significantly contribute to bringing together knowledge systems, as trust between members of the Nyamal people and scientists is progressively developed. We hope to approach future collaborative work through a holistic lens involving language, culture, traditional knowledge and western science. This will inform the best way to look after threatened and culturally significant species.

Employment and skills development are central to our program. Nyamal rangers are employed to improve both Country and culture in this program through undertaking intergenerational knowledge exchange, land management activities and looking after cultural sites in addition to a range of other activities.

Through on-Country trips and the involvement of Elders, this program facilitates the exchange of traditional knowledge and language in natural settings significant to our culture. It’s an empowering shift that places the control of cultural knowledge transfer back into the hands of the Nyamal people, allowing us to determine our own narrative and focus on what matters to our community. This approach not only strengthens cultural continuity but also ensures that the skills and knowledge imparted are relevant and meaningful, fostering a future where our cultural identity is self-defined and flourishing.

We acknowledge the absence of our valued ranger, Murrkangunya (oldest son) Lockyer, who has been missing since October 2022. Our missing ranger’s contribution to our team and his love for country are deeply missed, and we continue to hope for information that can bring him safely back to his family and community. If you have any information, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.