The Aṉangu-Tjutaku (Spinifex-Pilki-Untiri Pulka) is now Australia’s third biggest Indigenous Protected Area.
In an intimate ceremony, Aṉangu-Tjutaku Traditional Owners have signed a deal with the Australian Government to make their Country one of the newest and biggest Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA).
The Aṉangu-Tjutaku IPA is comprised of three Native Title Determinations- Spinifex, Pilki and Untiri Pulka. The Spinifex people were the first in Western Australia to receive Native Title in 2000.
Ethan Hansen signing the IPA. Credit: NITV: Kearyn Cox
The 'Heart of the Great Victorian Desert'
The Aṉangu-Tjutaku Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) is more than 600 kilometers north-east of Kalgoorlie and takes a nine-hour drive along dusty roads from the city.
The remote IPA is in the heart of the Great Victorian Desert on the border of Western Australia and South Australia.
The Aṉangu-Tjutaku IPA is bigger than the size of Tasmania, covering 9.79 million hectares.
The Aṉangu-Tjutaku IPA borders the Ngaanyatjarra IPA to the north and there are future plans for over 10 million hectares to be made for an IPA to the east in the Maralinga Tjarutja lands across the border in South Australia.
In 2017, the Australian Government committed $15 million under the Indigenous Protected Areas Program, to assist Indigenous groups to undertake consultation and planning for the establishment of new IPAs.
The funding from the IPA will allow the rangers to increase their capacity to manage damaging pests like camels, cat, fox and wild dogs and support the re-establishment of the Spinifex Women's Ranger Program, managed by Spinifex Land Management.
An Aerial shot near Tjitjiti. Credit: Alan McDonald
Continuing the Old People's legacy
Out on Country, the rangers care for a range of plants and animals within the IPA.
These are used for food and medicine and include honey ants and witchetty grubs, quandong, bush tomato and mulga apple.
Not only is the IPA rich in ecological values but it is equally rich in cultural values.
Ethan Hansen is a Traditional Owner of this area. He is also Head Ranger with the men's ranger program and co-signed the Indigenous Protected Area certificate.
Mr Hansen has been working with the ranger program there since it started in 2012.
He said the new IPA will provide a boost to rangers who are looking after Country.
“Our old people have been looking after our land for generations," he said.
Spinifex and Mallee. Credit: Alan McDonald
“With this ranger program, it helps us get back on Country and take the old people. Right now a lot of people are coming in and it is good everyone is getting involved."
For the young generations
Mr Hansen said he's trying to "encourage the young fullas to step up and do their role" which is "part of our normal way".
"One day, it'll be their turn. Then whatever they need to learn next time they can step up”, he said.
Wayne Donaldson has been the Chairperson in Tjuntjunjara for the past three years and also works with the Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation.
He said the new ranger program will provide good opportunities for the younger women in the community to learn and pass on the knowledge in the future.
“I think it's a really, really good thing because the younger generation can come back to community," he said.
“When they get older when the other ones get older and retire, the next one can step up and help then."
Tjuntjunjara Chairperson Wayne Donaldson. Credit: NITV: Kearyn Cox
New finds on ancient Country
The rangers collaborated with scientific experts to do their own surveys on Country and have discovered two plant species that are completely new to western science.
The Grevillea sp. Ilkurlka and Dicrastylis spIlkurlka were found while exploring within the Aṉangu-Tjutaku IPA. These discoveries were led by Traditional Owners depth of knowledge of their land.
During the surveys, they also recorded four of the five known specimens of Western Desert taipans as well as nationally-listed threatened bird and animal species including malleefowl, princess parrot and sandhill dunnart.
The rangers also found potential burrow habitats for several threatened species such as the greater bilby and lack-flanked rock wallaby.
Wayne Donaldson said the Elders in the area have held this knowledge all along.
“Like the Bilby, you know. The old people — they know where all these things are."
"We have to try and get everything we can from the old men and the old ladies and try to get everything we can while we can,” he said.
Traditional Owners leading the way
There are currently 81 dedicated IPAs over 85 million hectares in Australia.
Tjuntjuntjara's Spinifex ranger program, run by Pila Nguru Aboriginal Corporation, will benefit greatly from the new IPA agreement with the government.
Patrick O’Leary, Executive Director of Country Needs People, said the new protections enable the Traditional Owners to lead the way.
“Unlike a national park, which might be managed by the state government, the Indigenous Protection Area is managed by the Traditional Elders themselves," he said.
“Thousands and thousands of years of culture, and familiarity with this country, they are the best and most logical people to be the managers of this Country.
"We want to preserve this unique landscape for the future so everyone can appreciate it and enjoy it, but especially for Traditional Owners who have grown up lived here and enjoyed this for thousands of years.
Executive Director of Country Needs People, Patrick O’Leary. Credit: NITV: Kearyn Cox
Both Mr Hansen and Mr Donaldson agree that young people may start returning to Tjuntjuntjara in the future.
"We know that we can keep working to keep in touch with our country, you know, find more and explore more and find more species," said Mr Donaldson.
"Most of our elders are passing on and taking a lot of knowledge with them, we've got to keep getting knowledge to help us grow in the future for the young ones.
"That is the main thing we've got to stay happy, and look after our land and our land here and our native title boundaries and look after our elders and our children our people."
"We are lucky we are here and thank the old people for bringing us back," said Mr Hansen.
Indigenous Protected Areas now make up more than 50 per cent of the National Reserve System – over 11 per cent of Australia's landmass.
