Cross-Cultural Monitoring of a Cultural Keystone Species Informs Revival of Indigenous Burning of Country in South-Eastern Australia

McKemey, Michelle; Patterson, Maureen L. P.; Rangers, Banbai; Ens, Emilie; Reid, Nicholas; Hunter, John T.; Costello, Oliver; Ridges, Malcolm; Miller, Cara

doi:10.1007/s10745-019-00120-9

Cited by 26 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The concept of Cultural Keystone Species was originally an adaptation (Platten and Henfrey, 2009) of the 'keystone species' concept of ecology (Paine, 1969). It has been applied to a diverse range of culturally-important flora and fauna, from rice in the Phillipines (Zapico et al, 2020) to bears in Canada (Clark et al, 2021), echidnas in Australia (McKemey et al, 2019), medicinal plants in French Guiana (Tareau et al, 2020) and herring on the Pacific coast of North America (Moss, 2016). Modifications of the original concept have included combining it with the concept of biocultural diversity, arguing that 'Biocultural Keystone Species' better captures the diverse range of ecological and cultural significance such species often hold (Shackleton et al, 2018).…”

Section: What Makes Ceiba Magical?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ceiba pentandra (Malvaceae) and associated species: Spiritual Keystone Species of the Neotropics

Tareau¹,

Greene²,

Odonne

et al. 2022

Botany

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Among the 18 species included in the Ceiba genus, in the Malvaceae (Bombacoideae) family, Ceiba pentandra L. Gaertn. is not only the tallest and most widespread, but also occupies the most prominent place in Neotropical cosmovisions. In this ethnobotanical review, we compare perceptions and uses of Ceiba and related species across indigenous and Afro-descendant cultures ranging from the Caribbean to the Argentinian Chaco. Ceiba's widely-shared role as axis mundi, (particularly in Amazonia) psychopomp and shelter of major forest spirits makes it a perfect example of a Spiritual Keystone Species, a new concept inspired from Cultural Keystone Species and defined here for the first time.

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Section: What Makes Ceiba Magical?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ceiba pentandra (Malvaceae) and associated species: Spiritual Keystone Species of the Neotropics

Tareau¹,

Greene²,

Odonne

et al. 2022

Botany

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“…European occupation of this area occurred from the 1830s onwards and 'the rapid displacement of the Banbai people from their homelands during the 19th century and the advent of agriculture prevented traditional burning, hunting and gathering cultural practices' (Sonter 2018: 31). From 2009, the Banbai rangers started to renew cultural fire management through engagement with Indigenous fire specialists, other Indigenous ranger groups, the Firesticks project and government agencies (Tamarind Planning 2017;McKemey et al 2019).…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Banbai people took ownership of Wattleridge IPA in 1998 and started to renew their cultural fire management from 2009, although, they felt that they weren't able to implement 'right-way' fire until they developed relationships with Indigenous fire mentors in 2014 and were able to 'learn from Country' (McKemey et al 2019;Steffensen 2020;McKemey et al 2021). This process was also supported by networking with other Indigenous communities participating in cultural fire renewal through the Firesticks Project (Tamarind Planning 2017) and practical support from government agencies such as the NSW Rural Fire Service.…”

Section: Seasonal and Fire Data From Banbai Interviewsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co‐producing a fire and seasons calendar to support renewed Indigenous cultural fire management

McKemey

Ens²,

Hunter³

et al. 2021

Austral Ecology

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Indigenous knowledge emphasises the importance of cultural connections between humans and the biophysical world. In the face of threats to the maintenance and transfer of Indigenous knowledge, novel approaches such as seasonal calendars are emerging as tools to share knowledge and guide management of natural and cultural resources. The renewal of Indigenous cultural fire management in southeast Australia provided an opportunity to explore whether the co-production of a fire and seasons calendar, using Western and Indigenous knowledges, can support cultural fire management. We present a case study of cross-cultural collaboration between scientists and the Banbai Aboriginal rangers at Wattleridge Indigenous Protected Area, New South Wales. We reviewed literature from various disciplines (archaeological, ethnohistorical, Indigenous and ecological) and undertook participatory action research and interviews to collate relevant information. This was synthesised in Winba = Fire, the Banbai Fire and Seasons Calendar, which is used by the Banbai rangers to guide cultural burning, share cross-cultural knowledge and increase awareness of Indigenous cultural fire management. The process of co-producing knowledge, revitalising culture, caring for Country, working together and supporting self-determination is relevant for many Indigenous communities around the world.

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“…2015; McKemey et al . 2019). Future investigations into community IEK could employ more informal and inclusive methods that are better aligned with Karajarri practices.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning together: developing collaborative monitoring of intertidal invertebrates in the Karajarri IPA, north‐western Australia

Murley¹,

Grand²,

Prince³

et al. 2022

Eco Management Restoration

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Summary The Karajarri Indigenous Protected Area, in the south‐west Kimberley, is home to vast intertidal rock platforms that form a culturally and ecologically important environment for Karajarri Traditional Owners and wider Bidyadanga community. Karajarri Rangers initiated a collaborative partnership with researchers to devise an intertidal invertebrate monitoring protocol to meet the requirements of their Healthy Country Plan and sustainably manage their cultural harvesting. The project aimed to design and trial a monitoring protocol that blended Indigenous ecological knowledge and values with western scientific rigour. To investigate and document the community’s ecological knowledge of marine resources, a series of Ranger interviews, focus groups and collaborative fieldwork was conducted. Data collected from these qualitative methods provided valuable insights into knowledge of the intertidal environment and fauna and the community’s management aspirations and priorities. Informed by these data, a monitoring protocol was cross‐culturally designed to combine Indigenous knowledge and values within a western scientific framework. Two methodologies were piloted, focusing on a small subset of culturally significant target species. Although both were successful, the trial indicated that Rangers preferred abundance‐focused methods for ecological monitoring. Further refinement of the monitoring protocol is required to build western science knowledge of the ecosystem and meet Ranger management goals. However, this study provided the basis of future monitoring strategies for Karajarri Rangers, formed a lasting collaborative partnership and is a useful exploration of Indigenous preferred approaches to western scientific monitoring of intertidal rock platforms.

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Cross-Cultural Monitoring of a Cultural Keystone Species Informs Revival of Indigenous Burning of Country in South-Eastern Australia

Cited by 26 publications

References 36 publications

Ceiba pentandra (Malvaceae) and associated species: Spiritual Keystone Species of the Neotropics

Ceiba pentandra (Malvaceae) and associated species: Spiritual Keystone Species of the Neotropics

Co‐producing a fire and seasons calendar to support renewed Indigenous cultural fire management

Learning together: developing collaborative monitoring of intertidal invertebrates in the Karajarri IPA, north‐western Australia

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