Some of the Martu Leadership team spent time in Melbourne attending a series of workshops, meetings and delivering presentations. They focussed on how companies run, who owns them and the role of members, directors, CEOs and staff.

Martu have been saying for a long time they would like to see more of KJ’s non-Martu staff learning their languages. It’s a message that hasn’t gone unheeded – as Martu have been coming into the office to teach staff, and bit-by-bit, they’re learning!

The last three months of cooler weather have seen rangers engaged in fire management activities across Martu Country.

In April, Kunawarritji rangers had a chance to mix with other central desert ranger groups at Central Land Council’s (CLC) Ranger Camp at Glen Helen, NT.

The Martu Leadership group met for the first gathering of the year at a two-day meeting held in Roy Hill Mining Camp. This meeting enabled the group to reflect on the work that had been done in 2018 and to start planning what they would like to focus on this year.

In April, KJ rangers gathered at Nifty Mine to undertake Incendiary Machine Operator (IMO) training; a critical role in aerial burning operations.

Rangers and elders have conducted helicopter mapping and waru work out of Parnngurr and Punmu. Two very important rock holes were found — Jiman and Juntiwa — as well as having the chance to capture elders’ stories.

Recently, the Kunawarritji rangers took a couple of Newman police officers out on country. The group ventured to soaks, checked tourist permits and visited a number of important sites. Read the diary entry from the team.

The development of a digital app for Martu to use on country is currently underway! As Martu travel country, this app is planned to show the names and locations of kalyu (waterholes) and share the stories and histories of Martu elders.

KJ ranger teams have been carrying out mankarr (bilby) surveys as part of the mankarr monitoring project. This work, over time, will monitor population size, distribution and assess habitat health.