The Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation’s (BAC) Butchulla Water Stories project has now moved into Phase 2, supported by a Great Barrier Reef Foundation Reef Trust Partnership Healthy Country grant.
Butchulla Land and Sea Rangers lead a WetCAT assessment activity at Boorangoora (Photo: BAC) 
Jymara Burns kitted up to collect macroinvertebrates at Boorangoora (Photo: BAC) 
Part of the WetCAT assessment – water bugs demonstrate lake health (Photo: BAC) 
Elders Aunty Shirley Blake and Aunty Gayle Minniecon and ghundus at the Pinnacles (photo: BAC) 
As a part of this 18-month project, the BAC is conducting two gender-specific cultural camps for elders and gundhus (young people). The camps, conducted on K’gari, aim to renew Butchulla culture by supporting custodianship and intergenerational knowledge transfer by sharing Butchulla Water Stories.
The first of these, the women’s cultural camp, was held in October. The intergenerational camp attracted a total of 21 participants with several families represented by elders (grandmothers), daughters and even granddaughters.
A packed schedule included visits to Boorangoora, Wanggoolba Creek, The Pinnacles, and Eli Creek. WetCAT assessments and water quality monitoring activities were demonstrated on-site to increase understanding and improve future management of culturally significant Butchulla water values.
BAC Chair, Auntie Gayle Minniecon led an activity that highlighted the significance of K’gari’s Water Stories to the Butchulla people including Boorangoora – waters of wisdom, Wanggoolba Creek – new life, and Eli Creek – ancient waters. Combining these waters with coloured sands, each participant took home a permanent reminder of the cultural camp and the knowledge that had been shared.
A separate men’s cultural camp event will be taking place next year.
Article submitted by Chantel Van Wamelen, Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation
FINIA 