by Tommy Esau, Research Worker

On 19 August, Dr. Rebecca Johnson the Director of the Australian Museum Research Institute accompanied by Dr. Tyron Lavery from the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, USA and Dr. David Maclaren from James Cook University and members from the Kwaio community walked an epic but spectacular 8 hours walk to visit the Kwainaa`isi Cultural Centre in the Kwaio mountains. The trip was to see the Cultural Centre and meet with communities about health and conservation programs in the mountain.

The visit was significant and demonstrate the partnership and commitment that Kwainaa`isi and the Australian Museum had established over the past 2 years on conservation, local Cultural knowledge about plants and animals and their Cultural school. During the stay at the Cultural Centre, Kwainaa`isi put on a remarkable day proudly celebrating the strong culture of the people of Kwaio. Various activities were displayed includes: shell money making, weaving baskets, combs, making bamboos inti different musical instruments like `au (panpipe), `aa`imae (chanting with bamboo sticks about historical music) and gigilo (stamping bamboos).

The day ended with celebrations of binubinu (group dancing) and feasting. Rebecca expressed that she was excited and privileged to witness the event for the first time in her life. She stated that it is important to maintain the important and unique cultural traditions which have been lost in many parts of the world. “I’m happy to see that you keep your culture, land, plants and animals which is very important”.

Part of Rebecca’s visit to was to meet with the chiefs, leaders and members of the Kwainaa`isi to discuss about the Cultural School and the conservation program. With the support of Rebecca and the Australian Museum team, the Kwainaa`isi Cultural school now has three teachers to teach basic numbers, reading, writing and Kwaio Language. In addition, 12 instructors teach different aspects of Kwaio culture and customs such as music, arts and history for five days a week.

The discussion also highlighted some positive feedback and outcomes about the conservation program. The work is progressing well and many community leaders have supported the work because it has been benefiting the communities, both their environment and income to support their families. Many leaders and chiefs have expressed that the work of teaching and maintaining our culture and customs was our longtime dream. Land is our mother and our culture and custom is who we are.

During the trip, a three day training workshop in GPS mapping, camera traps, setting nets for bats was conducted by Tyron Lavery to establish conservation strategies for Kwainaa’isi, Kafurumu and Aifasi conservation areas. Training demonstrated how to take photos of captured cats for comparisons to camera trap images. Rangers patrol the conservation areas on a regular basis for illegal activities, such as hunting and forest exploitation.

As part of the training, a first conservation area `Eriani Kwete in Kwainaa`isi was mapped. Monthly checks will start in September. Rangers agree to check camera traps on every first day monthly. The local rangers were excited about the conservation strategy and new knowledge and skills gained that would be useful for their future work through a participative approach.

We thank the Australian Museum for recognizing our dreams and desires. We wish that this collaboration continued well into the future, so this important work can be recognized and carried forward by our younger generations.

For more information about the health and conservation work at Kwainaa`isi Please contact Mr. Tommy Esau at fataiaman@gmail.com or Dr. David Maclaren at david.maclaren@jcu.edu.au