Healing Country and Building Totemic Practice Framework
Project Advisory Group members and Stanwell staff on Country (Source: Murawin)
Client: CSIRO
Service: Research & Evaluation
The Wakka Wakka Healing Country and Building Totemic Practice Framework was developed to restore and culturally rejuvenate the lands of the Wakka Wakka Nation affected by the Meandu mine outside Murgon, Southwest Queensland. The framework was co-designed by Wakka Wakka Nation Elders, knowledge holders and community members, alongside Murawin and CSIRO. As a pilot project, the framework presents a model that other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nations can adopt and contextualise when looking to heal, and rebuild totemic practices with their Countries affected by mining activities.
The Meandu Mine began open cut coal mining in 1982, however the Wakka Wakka Nation were not involved in the establishment or the operations. In 2022 the Wakka Wakka people were formally recognised as Native Title holders over a large area that includes the mine site. Mining activity is scheduled to close by 2037, this sets the stage for land rehabilitation and remediation in collaboration with the Wakka Wakka people.
CSIRO engaged Murawin to identify a suitable Aboriginal Nation to develop the pilot model, then engage with them to co-design the framework together and deliver that framework to both the community and CSIRO.
After researching and initial contact with multiple Nation groups, Murawin engaged with the Wakka Wakka Nation and the Bunya Cultural Hub as the pilot community for the project.
Extensive consultation and engagement were conducted with the Project Advisory Group who were made up of Wakka Wakka Elders, knowledge holders and community members and members of the Bunya Cultural Hub. A key part of the engagement involved a mine site visit and walk on Country for Wakka Wakka people to assess the state of Country and the current revegetation efforts. This plus multiple face to face engagements between Murawin and the Project Advisory Group allowed for rigorous co-design to occur and the development of the framework that captures the hopes and aspirations of the Wakka Wakka people.
The framework is underpinned by nine foundational principles that outline a comprehensive strategy for the future of the site.
1. Remediation and Healing of Country
2. Cultural, physical, and spiritual effects of mining on Country
3. Shared development and oversight of mine site and waterways remediation
4. Future commercial opportunities arising from Healing Country and Building Totemic Practice
5. Negotiate and complete formal agreements for Wakka Wakka Nation to access remediated sites to support Healing of Country and totemic practices.
6. Community health and wellbeing initiatives
7. Sharing Wakka Wakka Cultural and Traditional Practices
8. Return of Country to Traditional Owners
9. Formalise the moral, legal, and environmental rights of Traditional Owners
Images sourced from the Wakka Wakka Healing Country and Building Totemic Practice Framework report
The Wakka Wakka Healing Country and Building Totemic Practices Framework provides a model that fosters collaboration and opens the door to meaningful rehabilitation and healing of Country post mining activities. Through comprehensive engagement and consultation, the Wakka Wakka people, CSIRO and Murawin were able to develop a pilot framework that we hope will be taken up and used by many other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nations into the future.