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Supporting women in Indigenous Land Management

Karrkad Kanjdji Trust

Supported beneficiary groups within Women & Girls
Age Demographic
Varied Ages
Project Focus
Project Area
Australia
Rural/Regional

Project Description

In remote West & Central Arnhem Land, women are playing an important & growing role managing Country & supporting their communities as Indigenous rangers. Women-specific Traditional Knowledge & responsibilities are crucial to effective & holistic Indigenous land management. However, in West & Central Arnhem Land men have taken up most of the government-funded ranger positions, as programs developed around traditionally male tasks like fire & feral animal management. This issue is compounded by the that Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) receive approximately 6% of federal conservation estate funding, despite forming nearly half of the Australia’s conservation estate.

The combination of philanthropy & carbon abatement income is changing the story for women in our region. Dedicated women’s ranger teams are building the capacity of remote land management workforces, providing women with the opportunity to use & share their traditional knowledge, & increase their skills, wellbeing and confidence. Donations are used to further the ongoing development of strong women’s ranger teams on Nawarddeken, Rembarrnga, Dalabon & Mayili country in West & Central Arnhem Land, working with our partners Warddeken Land Management (Warddeken) and Mimal Land Management (Mimal). It would also support the development of the Strong Women for Healthy Country Network which is focused on improving conditions & opportunities for Indigenous women working in land management across the NT.

Expected Outcomes

Through this project we will support the continued growth of the Warddeken and Mimal women’s ranger teams, who are supported by four dedicated women’s ranger coordinators. Across the two organisations this will impact approximately 150 women aged from teenagers to Elders who are connected to Country in this region.

  1. Increase the participation of Indigenous women in the Warddeken and Mimal ranger programs, promoting gender equality within the two organisations who manage a contiguous area of 3.2 million hectares
  2. Increase the skill base and capacity within the Warddeken and Mimal ranger programs – women have opportunities to develop their skills in a range of areas (especially burning programs), and connect with other ranger groups and stakeholders across the NT
  3. Create opportunities for women to practise ceremony, cultural activities and other women’s businesses to increase the intergenerational transfer of Bininj (Indigenous) culture and languages.
    In addition, KKT is working with Mimal Land Management to support the Strong Women for Healthy Country Network, which is bringing women from over 30 ranger teams together to connect, heal and share knowledge and resources.
  4. Advance the development of the NT Strong Women for Healthy Country Network to improve the participation of women in the land management industry, their career opportunities and conditions.

Project Data & Lessons

KKT works closely with our partners Warddeken and Mimal to collect data and stories from the work we are supporting. Including:

-Number of women participating in the ranger workforces; proportion of total ranger hours worked by women (target: women comprise >35% of workforces)
-Number of women ranger coordinators employed (target Mimal: 1; Warddeken: 3)
-Number of ceremonies, women’s camps and other women-only events supported
-Number of external training opportunities available to women For the SWHC Network data collected includes
-Delivery of an SWHC forum (current target: 1 major event every year)
-Number of smaller regional events supporting women rangers (training, women’s camps, ceremonies etc)
-Number of ranger groups and other relevant stakeholders engaged (target: >30 ranger groups)

The SWHC Network will be a major forum for sharing knowledge, training opportunites, healing between women rangers across the NT and nationally as connections are built with other state networks.

Project Dates

Update
Women's ranger programs care for country on an annual repeating work cycle

Funding Details

$498,197
Funding Needed
$411,171
Current Funding
$909,368
Total Project Costs
0
Approved Tax Deductability Status
Approved Tax Concession Charity
Other Funding Sources
Philanthropic support secured through KKT (https://kkt.org.au/philanthropic-partners). Additionally in kind support provided by ranger programs from government grants and carbon abatement revenue.
Other Support Opportunities
Pro bono services

Organisation Details

Karrkad Kanjdji Trust
ABN: 98 502 331 587

Contact

Stacey Irving
Phone: 0448638781

About Karrkad Kanjdji Trust

The Karrkad Kanjdji Trust (KKT) works to protect, restore, and enhance the unique natural environment of West and Central Arnhem Land. KKT acts as the philanthropic fundraising arm of Indigenous ranger groups, partnering with on-ground land management organisations to realise our mission. Our name, Karrkad Kanjdji (pronounced gar-gut gun-jee), refers to the stone country highlands and savanna lowlands of Arnhem Land that we work together to protect. KKT was established by Traditional Owners of the Warddeken and Djelk Indigenous Protected Areas in 2010. Our approach to conservation is holistic – our projects span 6 key focus areas:

  1. Education – on Country, bicultural programs
  2. Biodiversity – native species & ecosystem conservation
  3. Women – meaningful ranger employment
  4. Culture – preservation of cultural heritage
  5. Community – sustainability of remote ranger bases
  6. Climate – carbon abatement through traditional burning

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