The Bunuba Rangers were officially formed in 2011. Yet for many years prior to this Bunuba people had been working with Parks and Wildlife on various conservation projects at Danggu (Geikie Gorge), Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek), and Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge) National Parks. By the early 2000s young Bunuba people were beginning to take up employment within the Parks. Some of the work was on a casual basis – fencing, weeding, trail maintenance and the setup and pack down of the Parks in response to the wet season closures. Other young Bunuba leaders sought our direct employment with Parks and Wildlife directly as Park Rangers, Ticket Sellers and even the Senior Ranger role at Danggu (Geikie Gorge) National Park.
Seeing the impact and the work that these young Bunuba people were undertaking within the Parks, made people start to question how the rest of Bunuba muwayi was being cared for. In 2010, these young Bunuba leaders called for a meeting between Bunuba Elders and Parks & Wildlife staff to discuss their concerns for how all Bunuba muwayi could be better cared for. Since the first National Parks were established on Bunuba Country in the early 1960s, Parks and Wildlife have been strong supporters of Bunuba. And they continued to be so in this instance. With funding and in-kind support secured by Parks & Wildlife, the Bunuba Rangers were officially established in 2011.
In those first years the Rangers were employed solely on a fee-for-service basis funded by Parks. As such all our on-country work happened on Parks estate. But this changed after a meeting between the Bunuba Rangers and the team from Environs Kimberley (EK) in 2014. Through discussions with EK we realised that there was potential to work with their organisation across those areas of Bunuba Country not protected by Conservation or National Parks. This was the beginning of a new stage in our relationship with EK, (who had first supported us in our protest against the damming of Thalalngi (Dimond Gorge) in 1996). EK secured grants and funding, as well as providing ecologists and other specialists, so that we could continue caring for these parts of Country that are so important to our community. Our partnership with EK still continues to this day, as our relationship grows to reflect the changing needs of our Ranger team and our muwayi.
Around 2014, communities and Ranger teams across Australia were developing their unique Healthy Country Plans. Designed through consultation with Traditional Owners, a Healthy Country Plan identifies those aspects of culture and Country that hold the most significance within the community. Through the development of the plan, we are able to determine ways to strengthen culture and Country, and to minimise any threats to these ambitions. Bush Heritage Australia (BHA) had been involved in the development of many Healthy Country Plans across Australia, and we began working with them in the production of Bunuba’s unique plan. Through this relationship Bush Heritage began to take on a more strategic role in the running of our Ranger team. For a number of years Bush Heritage staff took on the role of Healthy Landscape managers and Ranger co-ordinators.
Finally launched in 2018, our Healthy County Plan – Jalangurru Muwayi – was a collaborative effort between ourselves, Bush Heritage, Environs Kimberley and Parks & Wildlife Services. We have been fortunate to have such strong and supportive partners. Jalangurru Muwayi was our opportunity to weave these distinct partnerships into a collaborative whole. By working together, we aim to look after Country, regardless of the land tenure that overlays it. Through overlapping projects, we can ensure that the work we do with each of our partners contributes to the formation of a holistic work program that cares for all Bunuba Country.
With our partners we work together on a wide range of projects that reflect the uniqueness of our Country. Some of the work we have done over the years includes biodiversity surveys for Gouldian Finches & Purple Crowned Fairy Wrens; crocodile surveys; cane toad taste aversion studies; fire management; biosecurity surveys; tourism; pest and weed eradication; fencing; and the running of our National & Conservation Parks.
In 2017 we began working with Nulungu Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, on our Cultural Caretakers Program. Involving both our Rangers and our Traditional Owners, this work involves the identification, conservation and ongoing maintenance of our rock art sites. This project has been designed to ensure that our Elders and our young people can also be present - not only to see these sites, but to share and pass on the knowledge and stories that are reflected in each of our paintings.
In 2018 our team grew again with the establishment of the Bunuba Women’s Ranger program. Whilst Bunuba wiyi (women) had been part of our team since 2011, funding from the Australian Rangers Program allowed us to secure specific positions for our wiyi. This guarantees that the unique knowledge and balance that wiyi bring to Country would remain a permanent part of our team. Our wiyi quickly proved themselves, to the extent that within a year they were hosting the 2019 Kimberley Women’s Ranger Forum at Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge).
In 2020 the Bunuba Ranger team became direct employees of Parks & Wildlife. In many ways this shift of team management was in response to the establishment of the new Bunuba National Parks. Now with 143,000 hectares of Bunuba muwayi included within the conservation estate, it followed that our Ranger team would be Jointly Managed to reflect the combined conservation priorities of Bunuba and Parks & Wildlife. It also means that our Rangers are now being trained up in all the skills necessary to give them the opportunity to one day run the Bunuba Parks.
In the last couple of years, alongside their day-to-day work the Bunuba Rangers have completed their Certificates III & IV in Conservation Land Management; received their Coxswain’s ticket; become helicopter navigators; and trained in both land and aerial fire-fighting, alongside many other incredible achievements. This hard work and dedication means that the Bunuba Rangers are already taking greater leadership roles in the management of our co-vested, jointly managed Parks.
Our story of caring for Country is constantly being rewritten through the incredible work of our Rangers and the support of our conservation partners. Our Healthy Country team is defined by our diversity and collaboration. Working on a vast range of projects ensures that all of our muwayi are being cared for. By drawing on the unwavering support of our longstanding partners we are able to realise the obligations that Bunuba people hold to look after Country. Jalangurru muwayi means jalangurru dawangarri – healthy Country means healthy people. In this way our Bunuba Ranger program is more than just the conservation of our Country, it is the preservation and continual realisation of the cultural identity and responsibilities that we have upheld since the beginning of time.