Healing land and people with biodiversity research

Full article issued by Curtin University.

A Discovery Indigenous research project led by Mr Darryl Kickett from Curtin University's School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry, is advancing reconciliation in Australia by bringing together scientific expertise, history and Indigenous cultural knowledge to conserve the country’s precious biodiversity.

The project titled ‘Healing Land, Healing People: Novel Nyungar Perspectives’, includes fellow Curtin researchers John Curtin Distinguished Professor Anna Haebich and Dr Carol Dowling, as well as Professor Stephen Hopper from The University of Western Australia and Dr Tiffany Shellam from Deakin University.

“This research project is unique because we are bringing together scientific expertise, history and rich cultural knowledge with the aim of finding the secret recipe to safeguard our country’s precious biodiversity for future generations,” says Mr Kickett.

“As a Nyungar man who grew up near the Dryandra Woodlands, near Narrogin, this valuable nature conservation area holds cultural significance to Indigenous people and I am grateful to the Wiilman Elders for their role in this project, which seeks to advance reconciliation by healing land and people.”

 

Sunrise on the Dryandra woodlands. Image Credit: Public Domain.