To safeguard our future, like all the world’s people we must educate our young people. Passed from our ancestors to our Elders and expert knowledge holders (our scientists and professors), our languages, stories, songs, rituals and art hold and give meaning to our lives and the world we live in. Our land and sea Country is alive with this knowledge. It holds layers of meaning and power and through mälk (skin names) and gurrutu (kinship) shows us our place in relation to each other and the known world. Throughout our lives, to learn – we listen, we watch, and we follow. To teach – we show, talk, sing, dance, paint and carve. Our bilingual and learning on Country programs are the way we connect this knowledge with our schools. Our Djäkami Wäŋawu, are most important as they safeguard and protect our Country, making sure they have the traditional knowledge and authority to share and teach. We are working to ensure this cultural knowledge and wisdom is recognised in formal qualifications.

When our Country suffers from introduced threats like weeds, feral animals, marine debris, illegal access and climate change our Djäkami Wäŋawu also need mainstream skills. Mainstream skills help when we consider mining, tourism and other enterprises in our IPA’s. They are also valuable when we want to work in partnership with western scientists and researchers to add to our knowledge and understanding of our IPAs.

We are proud to be learning organisations, where, based firmly on our cultural knowledge foundation we respect and use both intellectual traditions.