Indigenous values workshops with Rod Mason

Frieinds of Grasslands have organised two workshops assisted by Geoffrey Simpson and Rod Mason and supported by Kosciuszko to Coast partnership and the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority.

Workshop 2: Resource flows in the landscape

Learn:

• How the plants and fauna respond to the different seasons - six seasons.
• How to identify animals and plants, their properties and ecology (where to find them and when), and the significance of these plants to Aboriginal people.
• The language used for them and how the plants form part of Aboriginal living and culture.

The cost is $25 for lunches and morning and afternoon tea. For those wishing to stay at Garuwanga before, during or after the
workshop, accommodation is free.

Did you know? ...Local Aboriginal people cultivated ‘yam daisy gardens’, reconstituted and moved soil around the landscape, encouraged the survival of ‘fruit orchards’ for their pigeons, practised water conservation, burnt areas in particular ways to unlock seed stores, and cultivated grasses, bush lettuce and water parsley?

This was all part of their traditional knowledge of the flora and fauna and its flow through the landscape in the different seasons. This knowledge served to sustain their resources which they used for food, medicine, fibre (for carrying tools and food), and shelter.

The workshop will be led by Rod Mason, respected Ngarigo elder and natural resource scientist, and formerly with NSW National Park and Wildlife Service.

Rod emphasises learning by doing and reconnecting people to the natural and cultural resources in our region and “on farm”. He aims to create a better understanding of our (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) shared culture/heritage/biodiversity values.

These workshops are likely to change completely your understanding of nature and our grassy ecosystems in particular, and to change your approach to conservation.

The workshops will be held at Garuwanga (Ngarigo for Dreaming), a 700ha property managed for landscape function, biodiversity and cultural heritage, twelve kilometres from Nimmitabel. It is the venue for many Friends of Grasslands workshops and field days. Many other groups have also used it.

It has ample and reasonably comfortable accommodation available.
To inquire and register, please contact Geoff Robertson at geoffrobertson@iprimus.com.au or on 02 6241 4065.

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