This report presents the results of research and liaison work related to reviewing our existing cultural awareness programs. Its from this work that we got this website going and have developed it further!

The work was carried out by Sustainable Futures Australia (SFA), supported by the Arakwal Cultural Awareness Project Working Group (ACAPWG),which was established as part of the project. This group included representatives of the Arakwal community and Arakwal Aboriginal Corporation (AAC); Cape Byron Marine Park Authority (CBMPA); Cape Byron Conservation Reserve/National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS); and Sustainable Futures Australia. It continues to be a really positive relationship working together.

The report provides recommendations and next steps for us to develop an improved and integrated Arakwal Cultural Awareness Program (CAP) for our own people and the wider community,  including:

• the Cultural Awareness Working Group to keep supporting ongoing development, implementation, support for, and review of the CAP.

• updating and improving existing cultural awareness programs, including suggested changes and inclusions made in the report.

• developing new activities and events that help connect people to Country and increase awareness about Arakwal culture.

• integrating activities and programs into an annual events calendar with seasonal-themed events that encompass cultural activities and help get people back onto Country and into their culture.

• establishing a strong website presence to assist in connecting people and providing a platform for cultural information, learning and awareness

• preparing a strategic plan including prioritised strategies and actions.

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The Bundjalung of  Byron Bay Arakwal people lodged a Native Title Application over the land and adjoining waters extending from the Brunswick River to the north, past Julian Rocks to the east, Broken Head to the south and around the hinterland areas of Mullumbimby, Coorabell and Bangalow to the west.

A major part of our Native Title journey has been the opportunity  for our mob to live and work on country. The negotiations have enabled this to occur by providing affordable housing, employment and economic development opportunities.

Now quite a few of our mob work back on country but there is a long way to go!!

Key activities include:

• Native Title Negotiations and Indigenous Land Use Agreements with NSW Government
• Co-management Agreement with Arakwal National Park
• Resource Agreement with Cape Byron Marine Park
• Memorandum of Understanding with Byron Shire Council
• Iron Bark Elders Housing Project

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Our Arakwal elders Lorna Kelly, Yvonne Graham, Linda Vidler and Dulcie Nicholls long dreamed of one day returning to live on the land at Byron Bay where they had lived as children.

Iron Bark  is where the sisters lived as children in a semi-traditional lifestyle with their parents, Jimmy and Linda Kay. At the time of lodging the claim in 1994, Lorna Kelly said the family had lived off the land and the ocean between Cape Byron and Seven Mile Beach. The sisters’ grandfather was very well-known, Harry Bray, after whom Bray’s Hole at Broken Head was named.

In practical terms, the dream began way back in late 1994 when three of the sisters – Lorna, Yvonne and Linda – lodged a Native Title claim over a wide area of coastal Crown land that stretched from Byron Bay to Broken Head. Dulcie joined the claim at a later stage.

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Byron Shire Council has been very supportive of our Native Title aspirations since our first Native Title claim was lodged.

This was reflected in the 1998 Heads of Agreement created between our two groups. We are presentlyreviewing and updating the Heads of Agreement.

Byron Shire Council recently reaffirmed their relationship with the Arakwal people through the signing of a Statement of Commitment during Reconciliation Week in May, 2012.  Click on the image of the recently signed Statement of Commitment  to the right here for a closer look

A range of supportive actions have been undertaken in recent times including a Welcome to Country sign being provided and placed on the Byron Bay Community Centre.

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The NSW Government officially established the Cape Byron Marine Park in November, 2002.

The Arakwal People have been  negotiating with Cape Byron Marine Park regarding our right to access our waters. A consultative committee was established to further these negotiations. The Cultural Resource Usage Agreement was finalised and sent to the NPWS Minister for  consideration.

The election  of a new NSW Government in March, 2011, and the subsequent transfer of Marine Parks from NPWS to Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries has seen this proposed agreement sit idle with presently no surety as to when it will be finalised.

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Arakwal National Park  is located approximately 2 km south-east of Byron Bay in the far north coast of New South Wales (NSW).

It is the first national park in Australia to be created under an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) with the traditional owners, the Byron Bay Arakwal people, as joint managers with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

 The creation of the Arakwal National Park and subsequent areas has left an everlasting footprint on country.

This footprint is here to be respected and enjoyed by all who live on or the millions of people from all ove rthe world  who visit Arakwal country.

A major part of the Co-Management ILUA agreement is the commitment to Employment and Training for Arakwal People to work on Country.

Since ILUA 1  Arakwal people have been trained and are now employed  in a variety of positions throughout  National Parks.

There is still an ongoing commitment to continue this Employment and Training Strategy.

Arakwal People also have the majority on the Management committees overseeing the Management of these Parks.

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The Bundjalung of Byron Bay Arakwal People have lived in the coastal landscape around Byron Bay for at least 22,000 years. The Bundjalung of Byron Bay Arakwal People decided to negotiate with the NSW State Government in regard to Native Title Rights not long after the historic ’Mabo’ High Court decision in 1992.

The Arakwal Elders Lorna Kelly, Linda Vidler and Yvonne Graham made the first Native Title Application on behalf of the Arakwal people in 1994.

Since this application, and over the next 15 years, three Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA) were negotiated with the State of New South Wales. An indigenous land use agreement (ILUA) is a voluntary agreement about the use and management of land, made between a native title group and other people.

The first ILUA in 2001 was the very first of its kind and a landmark agreement in Australia. It won an international award acknowledging the agreement and the conservation and protection of country. The NSW Government and Arakwal People were awarded the prestigious Fred M. Packard award for distinguished achievements in wildlife preservation by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), at the 5th World Parks Congress held in South Africa in 2003.

Negotiations for two more Indigenous Land Use Agreements followed soon after. Governments and Native Title Claiments throughout Australia have used the Arakwal negotiations as a best practice model in their own respective negotiations.

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Welcome to the

Corey is a Byron Bay Arakwal family member from the Minyungbul Coodjingburra (Fingal Heads, NSW) and Yuin  (Narooma, NSW) peoples. He is a coastal man who loves to go to the beach, poetry and singing. Corey likes to go fishing with his family, getting pippis on the beach, gathering mussels (bimbala) and oysters with his uncles and brothers.

“I love painting, cause I see the beautiful colours that can be created, like the colours of the rainbow.  My passions are to be loving and caring for everything on this earth.  I like to clean country by picking up rubbish around creeks and the river, excercising outdoors and saying hello to friends.”

Corey’s culture is in his painting, poetry, family connections and gathering from nature and his painting reflects this.

“When I draw my hand this represents coming together and helping people.  Other paintings are about my family and I like to paint boats, snakes, snails, and most recently dolphins and fish. The colours I use represent the colours of the rainbow and the energy within life.”

Corey’s artwork and post cards are available at the Cape Gallery Shop and supports people working with a disability.

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The new Byron Bay library scheduled to open by the end of 2012 will contain a designated room for indigenous research and archival material, as well as a room for Arakwal cultural activities. This acknowledges the value of our culture to the wider community and appreciation of the role our people have played in making the land available for the library.

Keep posted for photos and information about our cultural displays and activities connected to this important local public space. Join as a ‘Friend’ and we will keep you updated.

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Some instructions for exploring …

• Click on our markers to visit features and special places. Click again and then zoom to get a closer look.
• Click on the map markers in the upper left corner to move the map around, make it larger or move in closer to places.
• Click “Earth” in the upper right corner to see the map in 3D (download Google Earth Plug-in if needed).
• Explore for markers up and down the coast and inland from Byron Bay and find out what’s there (this option is currently not available and is being researched and developed).
• Follow any song-lines and annual migration paths you might see, such as whales travelling past Byron Bay to Hervey Bay in Queensland to the north and returning to Antarctica (this option is currently not available and is being researched and developed).

It’s early days in developing the Map so come back and visit again – we are sure there will be more to see.

Binungal! (Stop! Look! Listen!)

By being on Country watching, listening and learning – we can get to know this Country, respect and use it wisely, and understand how to look after Country.

When we are in Country we follow some basic bush rules and we invite you to follow them too, especially if you are visiting our cultural sites.

Yoway! Thank you!