Over 26 people have come together for this year’s annual Threatened Species Workshop to share information on the endangered Mulyamiji (Great Desert Skink).

Martu women — the holders of traditional botanical knowledge and expertise — will preserve valuable knowledge of bush foods, medicine and other plant materials.

UNESCO choses KJ’s Waru (Fire) Program to include in their Green Citizens projects — the only one in Australia this year (so far)!

Martu have partnered with the Western Australian Museum to share Martu stories in the new museum which is scheduled to open in late 2020. One of these stories is about Martu knowledge of yintakaja (permanent waterholes) in the desert.

While the communities have been locking down due to the Coronavirus the rangers teams, while practising physical distancing, have been busy caring for country, looking after elders, engaging in cultural activities and giving their workspaces a touch-up.

Many Martu have always said that older and younger Martu need to teach and learn the knowledge and practices of their old people, Pujiman. Retaining and sharing these practices takes time, planning and a community to bring it all together. Martu who work with KJ and Martumili Artists spent time on country to talk about waru (fire).

Rangers have been involved in successful helicopter mapping activities to relocate waterholes out of Punmu and Kunawarritji. The work was combined with waru (fire) work to look after the country.

Martu rangers and staff from Punmu and Kunawaritji schools came together recently (alongside many rangers and elders in Parnngurr) to learn and record elders’ language and stories.

Rangers and elders have conducted helicopter mapping and waru work out of Parnngurr and Punmu. Two very important rock holes were found — Jiman and Juntiwa — as well as having the chance to capture elders’ stories.