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Boigu marks history launching Bio-Cultural Landscape Profiles

TSRA CEO, Malu Kiai RNTBC Chairperson, Environmental Specialists and Malu Kia Rangers with the Boigu Biocultural Profile.

The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) and the Boigu community are proud to announce the launch of their Bio-Cultural Landscape Profiles.

The profiles were unveiled by Malu Kiai Rangers and the Malu Ki’ai RNTBC, at a cultural celebration held on Boigu, on Monday 16th September.

The launch marked a significant milestone in Boigu’s history of preserving and transmitting traditional language and ecological knowledge for future generations.

TSRA Chairperson Napau Pedro Stephen AM commended the Boigu community for the breadth of cultural and scientific knowledge captured.

“The Bio-Cultural Landscape Profiles are testament to the deep connection between the people of Boigu Island, and their environment,” Mr Stephen said.

“This has been a three-year long project, led by a comprehensive flora and fauna survey which documented native wildlife and cultural elements such as star constellations, moon phases, and wind directions.”

“TSRA was honoured to collaborate with Elders, Traditional Owners, Malu Ki’ai RNTBC and the Malu Kiai Rangers to empower the Boigu community with continued maintenance in their connection with land, sea and heritage” Mr Stephen added.

Malu Kiai Senior Ranger Nelson Gibuma expressed how important it was to create the landscape profiles. “I feel very happy on this day as I think of our future generations to come. In my days teaching was passed down to me by my parents, uncles & aunties verbally, which was hard to record. Today it is easier to look back on these teachings through written documents in black and white. These documents capture knowledge, educate, and preserve our language which we speak daily, and we can use these to continue to share our traditional knowledge of land, air, and sea with our people.”

TSRA’s Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) team guided the research, documentation process and project management to co-develop a resource that would inspire greater appreciation and efforts towards preserving the region’s unique cultural heritage.

The profiles are also rich in language and feature artwork and illustrations by Boigu artist Barry Maitie and environmental specialist David Fell.

“Boigu’s Bio-Cultural Landscape Profiles demonstrate the power of community-driven initiatives, bridging the past and the future,” Mr Stephen said.

The Bio-Cultural Landscape profiles will soon find their place in schools, community centres, and homes, to share generational knowledge and a sense of pride, connection – and enduring legacy for generations to come.