Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00002:front:0:p40
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00002
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 117253–120247

and a great asset for the management of the park.

   'When we go to different places on our country, language and stories of those places come out. You tell stories as you travel to places, you don't leave it til you get there.'

Traditional owner

Bininj/Mungguy traditional cultural practices reflect culturally significant events, ideas and beliefs and include songs and stories, dances, ceremonies, body scarification, the use of particular dialects associated with regions, caring for country, and customary use of the land. It is important that these traditional practices are remembered and kept alive.

At least 12 different languages are thought to have been spoken throughout the Kakadu region prior to European settlement, and this helps to illustrate the great diversity and complexity of Bininj/Mungguy society. Languages are a vital component of cultural identity and it is important they remain strong.

Today, Bininj/Mungguy continue to live, work and hunt on country and this assists them to maintain links to their culture and country and participate in management of the park. The park organises on-country camps with different clan groups, such as Namarrgon and Gunlom camps, to help support the continuation of culture.

A cultural heritage information management system (CHIMS), developed during the life of the fifth plan, is used to store photos, oral histories and other cultural information for Bininj/Mungguy to access and use. An agreement negotiated with the National Archives of Australia in 2010 means it will assist with digitisation and stabilisation of all audio and video cultural information, and this material can also be stored on CHIMS when it is available. Policies and actions in Section 4 (Joint management) relating to recognition of Bininj/Mungguy cultural knowledge and skills and respect for Bininj/Mungguy cultural practices and protocols are also relevant to this section.

Values and condition

Bininj/Mungguy culture:

    * is representative of the oldest culture in the world, with continuous occupation over 50,000 years

    * is one of great diversity and complexity and includes several languages

    * provides a valuable source of traditional ecological knowledge. The ongoing, active management of the landscape through the use of fire has contributed to species diversity and provides an important example of people's interaction with the environment

    * continues today with Bininj/Mungguy living, working, hunting, fishing and collecting and using food and other cultural resources in the park.

    * Bininj/Mungguy continue to live on country, maintaining cultural practices, but some Bininj/Mungguy are concerned that their culture is getting 'weak'.

   'Ours is a living culture and today we have two laws – Bininj and Balanda together. We must continue teaching Bininj way because some things are almost floating away. We're running out of time ...'

Traditional owner

Existing threats to values

  Loss of traditional