Moolawang Ngayagang Yanba: Developing Relationships with Lake Illawarra

Abstract

This paper offers an example of how Indigenous knowledges can be integrated into governance within an Australian context. The research is part of an international collaborative project seeking demonstrable examples of the potential for effective integration of Indigenous knowledge into land and marine based planning processes, and environmental decision-making. In the main, the integration of Indigenous knowledge has been tokenistic, or for the purposes of appropriation, making Indigenous peoples reluctant to share their knowledge. Aware of the risks, the authors introduce an Australian based case study of a program with prodigious potential. Moolawang Ngayagang Yanba is a knowledge informed program delivered in place, on the shores of Lake Illawarra, New South Wales. Government employees, planners, scientists, environmentalists, and community members already involved with the Lake engaged in this Aboriginal based knowledge program. The aim was to introduce to participants a relational and generative way of knowing; an ethos that has the potential to inform future decision-making in relation to the Lake. Participants were encouraged to develop a relationship with, and recognise their personal and professional responsibilities to the Lake. This paper explains the Moolawang program and the Aboriginal knowledge that underpins it; Maramal, a place-based philosophy, articulating an interconnected set of frameworks for identifying with an Aboriginal worldview. We acknowledge this generously shared knowledge system is specific to Place, yet we conclude it provides principles, protocols and customs that have transferable potential to decision-making processes outside of the Illawarra, to other parts of Australia, and perhaps internationally.