Leah Talbot – NAILSMA – leah.talbot@nailsma.org.au
Teagan Sheilds – Curtin University – teagan.shields@curtin.edu.au
Leah Talbot – NAILSMA – leah.talbot@nailsma.org.au
Teagan Sheilds – Curtin University – teagan.shields@curtin.edu.au
The National Indigenous Environmental Research Network (NIERN) is an Indigenous-led initiative designed to improve Indigenous decision-making in relating to the National Environmental Research Program. Funded as a 3-year project by the Marine and Coastal Hub and Resilient Landscapes Hubs, it emerged to help fill the gap Identified by Indigenous leaders decades ago.
Indigenous groups have been lobbying for years to have a voice in setting the environmental research priorities and agenda. Currently there is no mechanisms to allow for a National Indigenous dialogue to inform environmental programs including NESP, Nature Repair Market and IPA Rangers.
Through investigations using several different research methods, all Indigenous led, the project will aim to showcase the best approach for a NIERN to operate based on robust conversations from workshops, interviews, case studies, desktop reviews, proposed business case and socialization of key outcomes.
This workshop is one of the main steps to help inform NIERN and ensure the design is Indigenous led and guided. The workshop will focus on: the NIERN roles and functions; the NIERN membership model; and the NIERN Business structure. The workshop will then focus on a practice application of NIERN and take a deep dive into the policy setting and recognition of Culturally Significant Entities and as group we will discuss a national definition and biocultural objectives for the recognition of culturally significant species.
The workshop is focused at Indigenous land and sea practitioners and Indigenous researchers, as facilitators we would prefer Indigenous only participants so culturally sensitive information can be shared freely.
Navigating uncertainty for a future sustainable ocean, requires effective input, consultation and engagement with First Nations Peoples and communities. To achieve this, understanding and awareness of research priorities to First Nations communities is essential. Research priorities at a national level can influence the large environmental agendas and programmes, but at scalable levels they can enhance the outcomes for First Nations communities in land and sea management and research. Our workshop will begin that conversation into understanding how First Nations Peoples and communities view their land and sea country and understand their needs and priorities for their land and sea country.
Dr Leah Talbot is an Eastern Kuku Yalanji woman from far north Queensland and is the Research Manager at the Northern Australian Indigenous Sea and Land Management Alliance (NAILSMA). Prior to joining NAILSMA, she was with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and earlier at CSIRO as an Indigenous Social Ecological Researcher.
Leah has a deep perspective on incorporating traditional knowledge into the governance of protected areas, both within Australia, and further abroad; in 2017 Leah completed her PhD and has experience in environmental management, high-level Indigenous negotiations, co-design frameworks and developing participatory planning with Indigenous communities in Indigenous land management. As an Indigenous science researcher her experiences also involve the development of Indigenous-led projects supported by collaborative Indigenous research methodologies.
Teagan is a proud Arabana woman. She grew up in Newcastle (Awabakal Country) and has worked in strategic policy reform, community engagement and biodiversity conservation across NSW, ACT and WA for the past 15 years. Teagan holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Education and a Master of Marine Science and Management.
Teagan believes the answer to the conservation issues facing Australia lies in the Indigenous-led use of Traditional Knowledge. She is currently undertaking a PhD with the University of Melbourne, investigating systemic changes to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land and sea managers in biodiversity conservation.
List of attendees you are encouraging as a way to set the direction of your workshop
The list of attendees we intend to invite are listed below. However, this is a tentative list and the geographical representation will be amended once we have received feedback from our Indigenous project governance group.
Cass Hunter, Mibu Fisher, Malachi Johnson, Chels Marshall, Stan Lui, Frank Loban, Wayne SeeKee, Doc Reyonds, Liz Wren, Peter Cooper, Jade Gould, Stephen Schnierer, Daniel Oades, Malcolm Mann.
Conference venue
30 - 50
Please charge all costs for our workshop to our Co-convenors, not to our workshop participants.
During the conference
All costs for our workshop will be covered by our Co-convenors.