Indigenous Knowledge of the Upper Shoalhaven

Cultural Connections

Indigenous Knowledge of the Upper Shoalhaven

Cultural Connections

Local Links - Stronger Communities -

LLCI026-003

The issue

Landholders in this region have limited knowledge on local Indigenous history, land management and uses of flora and fauna.

The solution

We invited Budawang Elder, Noel Butler, to share his extensive knowledge of country and culture with local landholders. Noel’s great-granny was born in the Mongarlowe area, and he described when and why his ancestors left the area and moved to the coast around Ulladulla. 

The impact

We were most privileged to witness Noel’s first time ever returning to his Granny’s (and therefore his) country. While he has visited Braidwood many times, he had never been on country in Mongarlowe and Budawang, for reasons to do with the dispossession and the lack of safety experienced by his family in the early years of white settlement. The day was filmed resulting audio-visual material forming a rich component of the Aboriginal history exhibition at the Braidwood Museum. One older attendee was heard to say it was the best day in his entire life!

Learnings

Among many things we learnt the correct pronunciation for Budawang and Mongarlowe, and that the Budawang tribe were “fresh-water and salt-water people”. Noel taught us the uses and history of many different plant speices found along the walk. Noel is a generous communicator and his humour was well evident as he shared with us with his deep cultural knowledge of country, and how his people would have managed it for many thousands of years before white settlement. Like many Aboriginal Elders Noel stresses that all of us living in this country have responsibilities to look after the land, and that sharing traditional knowledge and working together with current landcare practices can create a shared and healthy future for us all.  

Key facts

  • 25 local landholders with an increased knowledge of local Indigenous history, land management and environmental understanding
  • Information collected at the event has formed part of an Aboriginal history exhibition at the Braidwood Museum
  • 12 local plant species identified with their cultural use and name

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