Yarriin: Culture, Fish and Flows
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Kamilaroi / Gamilaroi / Gomeroi / Gamilaraay people as the traditional custodians of the land we work on. We recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of our Aboriginal community and have the utmost respect for our Elders past, present and future.
We acknowledge that the meetings and workshops for this project took place in Tamworth on Kamilaroi / Gamilaroi / Gomeroi / Gamilaraay land. We pay our respect to the Kamilaroi / Gamilaroi / Gomeroi / Gamilaraay and other First Nations participants who shared their lived experience, knowledge and understanding.
Traditional Custodians Notice
This work embodies traditional knowledge of the Gomeroi, Kamilaroi, Gamilaroi and Gamilaraay community. It was created with the consent of the custodians of the Gomeroi, Kamilaroi, Gamilaroi and Gamilaraay community. Dealing with any part of the work for any purpose that has not been authorised by the custodians is a serious breach of customary law of the Gomeroi, Kamilaroi, Gamilaroi and Gamilaraay community and may also breach the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).
For enquiries about permitted uses of the traditional knowledge contained in this work, contact stephanie.mccaffrey@dpird.nsw.gov.au or alexander.habilay@dpird.nsw.gov.au.
Yarriin: Culture, Fish and Flows Case Study
Kamilaroi / Gamilaroi / Gomeroi / Gamilaraay people have an important role and connection to care for Country and bagay-galgaa (rivers) of the Peel River Valley.
At the same time, Kamilaroi / Gamilaroi / Gomeroi / Gamilaraay voices, cultural knowkedge and perspectives are a recognised gap in our undertstanding of native guya (fish) and bagay (river) flow.
The Yarriin: Culture Fish and Flows project explored how Kamilaroi / Gamilaroi / Gomeroi / Gamilaraay knowledge about bagay (river) flow and native guya ecology can be represented in science and decision-making frameworks.
This Case Study was prepared through the collaborative efforts of knowledge holders and community members of the Kamilaroi / Gamilaroi / Gomeroi / Gamilaraay Nation living in the Tamworth region, along with Aunty Kay Blades, Alexandra Almond, Kristal Kinsela, and NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Fisheries.
The Case Study reflects their perspectives, values, views and aspirations. Participants contributed many different culturally important Stories and cultural knowledge frameworks for this project. This Case Study applies the cultural knowledge and frameworks to Story to develop aspirations and objectives for Kamilaroi / Gamilaroi / Gomeroi / Gamilaraay people about guya and bagay-galgaa. This supports the participants to articulate their role in caring for Country in the Peel River Valley.
Participants do not speak for all Kamilaroi / Gamilaroi / Gomeroi / Gamilaraay peopple or the entirety of Country. Neither is this Case Study a reflection of the entire Kamilaroi / Gamilaroi / Gomeroi / Gamilaraay Nation, rather a specific place on the Peel River called Galala.
"We want our stories and knowledge to be shared, so people understand the importance of the bagay and our history here. We want our voices to be heard and to work with the government and community partners so we can all Care for Country."
Our goal is that Kamilaroi / Gamilaroi / Gomeroi / Gamilaraay knowledge contributes to the health of bagay-galgga (rivers), and therefore the health and survival of Kamilaroi / Gamilaroi / Gomeroi / Gamilaraay people and their culture.
We thank the participants who shared their lived experience, knowledge and understanding to make this project possible.
"Yarriin is the current flowing through our bagay-galgaa; it is the lifeblood of our people, and connects all things across country. Yarriin holds the spirit of the Gomeroi people, both strong and unbroken. It mirrors the deep and sacred relationship between land, gali, and community, embodying the pulse that sustains us. As nhama bagay's current supports everything it touches, the current within Gomeroi people carries the legacy, strength and connection to Country. In yarriin, nhama bagay, the guya and the people move as one."
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Featured artwork: 'Paradise' by Amy Allerton
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.
Artwork story: We are part of an ancient Paradise that has existed since the beginning of time. This Paradise brings together every story that was and will be, and weaves them into the fabric of Country, creating an eternal flowing river that sustains life, teaches, guides and connects all things.
As long as the river continues to flow through Country, we will continue to walk in the ancient Paradise that we have called home for tens of thousands of years. But paradise is much more than Country, more than a place.
Paradise is the beating heart of our people, where our culture and communities thrive; it is the stories we share, the legacies we forge and the future we build. Paradise lives within us and all around us, it is the strength that carries us forward and the flowing river that holds our spirits forever.
Fish and flows
The successful completion of this project will inform future update the Fish and Flows Framework that will include Kamilaroi / Gamilaroi / Gomeroi / Gamilaraay cultural values, perspectives and objectives.
The Fish and Flows framework report can be found here.