While the communities have been locking down due to the Coronavirus the rangers teams, while practising physical distancing, have been busy caring for country, looking after elders, engaging in cultural activities and giving their workspaces a touch-up.

Between late February and early March, over forty Martu Leadership Program (MLP) participants from all communities were involved in a suite of activities in Newman and Perth. This work continues to develop the capacity of the MLP participants to work confidently within the mainstream world and promote Martu aspirations.

A number of day and overnight trips have occurred with over twenty Martu from Jigalong engaging in the program. Martu have also been involved in a number of workshops at the BHP Shed in community: brainstorming how they want the program to run.

Social Ventures Australia (SVA) has featured Martu in their third blog, in a series sharing stories from SVA clients, partners and friends in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, to highlight people and organisations like KJ who are uniquely affected by the coronavirus crisis.

Many Martu have always said that older and younger Martu need to teach and learn the knowledge and practices of their old people, Pujiman. Retaining and sharing these practices takes time, planning and a community to bring it all together. Martu who work with KJ and Martumili Artists spent time on country to talk about waru (fire).

Atlas Obscura — a global community of explorers and journalists who focus on unique places and stories — have featured Martu in their January edition, with contributing writer, Reina Gattuso, taking a look at KJ ranger’s work of reinstating cultural burns.

Martu have been making family trees for the kids out of leaves, branches and photographs. Afterwards they studied family trees from KJ’s archives. People of all ages came every week to spend time looking through their family trees — all part of the Women & Families Program!

The Punmu Women & Families Program (WFP) team works closely with the ranger teams and the schools to bring whole families together on-country. The WFP teams have many ideas for 2020, including more trips out on-country, being involved in longer camps, coming together to cook, read, play and learn language. 

Martu have visited Roebourne Regional Prison every month over the last six months to lead an ongoing conversation about alcohol. 

The Punmu Women & Families Program (WFP) team came together with Rawa Primary School, Punmu Home and Community Care (HACC) and the Martu Female Ranger team to dig and clean out the Jila Jila spring. When it was time to work, everyone got stuck in — some taking it in turns with the big shovels while the younger kids worked slowly (but surely) with toy shovels!