In the slightly salty claypans on Martu country, an edible native succulent kalaru (samphire) grows, and people from all over Punmu community have come together to share and record knowledge of how Martu turn this seed into damper.

The lifting of coronavirus restrictions saw the Jigalong rangers head out near the Canning Stock Route for their annual fire and pakaljarra (Black-flanked Rock-wallaby) work.

Martu rangers have successfully located the elusive Night Parrot in remote salt lake country in Western Australia. For two years, Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa’s ranger teams have been using sound recorders to search for the mysterious birds which are one of the rarest in the world. Experts from the University of Queensland have been assisting the search and, to the rangers’ delight, the hard work has finally paid off!

Australian scientists and indigenous rangers have devised a new method to incorporate indigenous knowledge ­­about a threatened desert marsupial — the greater bilby — into predictive species distribution models.

Fifteen years ago, Mr Taylor founded KJ with Sue Davenport and Peter Johnson, who were also honoured. Muuki is KJ’s senior cultural advisor and founded KJ to assist Martu to remain connected to country and culture.

To combat the threats to mankarr (bilby) populations, BHP is supporting the “Martu mankarr search” method which is based on Martu knowledge of desert ecology, classification of habitat types, fire patterns, food resources, threats and management practices that affect desert animals.

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.

In early March, KJ started delivering audio recorder training sessions in communities. KJ’s Country & Culture team member, Tam (aka Lunkuta) visited Kunawarritji community where rangers, community members and high school students from Rawa School all came together to learn and practice on the new recorder.

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.

Between late February and early March, over forty Martu Leadership Program (MLP) participants from all communities were involved in a suite of activities in Newman and Perth. This work continues to develop the capacity of the MLP participants to work confidently within the mainstream world and promote Martu aspirations.