RMMAC Rangers Performance Story 2022

Estimated read time: 1:20

    Summary

    The River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC) Rangers are making significant strides in preserving cultural heritage and boosting community morale. Established after a long journey of recognition and agreements, the RMMAC Rangers focus on protecting cultural sites and fostering knowledge transfer. Their work not only benefits the environment but also empowers indigenous youth, boosts self-esteem, and provides essential skills for the community's future.

      Highlights

      • The RMMAC Rangers are dedicated to preserving cultural heritage in the Riverland. 🌿
      • Their program started in 2009 and has involved the community's traditional owners. 🛠️
      • RMMAC Rangers focus on protecting significant cultural sites, including burial sites. 🛡️
      • The program provides technical training like chainsaw operation and four-wheel driving. 🚜
      • Being a Ranger boosts participants' confidence and self-esteem. 💪
      • Employment opportunities with the Rangers break negative cycles and promote better lifestyles. 🔄
      • Young Rangers become role models, contributing to a stronger community. 🏆

      Key Takeaways

      • RMMAC Rangers play a vital role in cultural preservation and environmental protection. 🌍
      • The program empowers indigenous youth by providing valuable skills and boosting confidence. 🌟
      • Employment through the RMMAC Rangers helps break cycles of adversity and strengthens communities. 💪

      Overview

      The journey of the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC) Rangers has been one of persistence and success. With their indigenous land use agreement in place, the Rangers are now able to focus on what truly matters: preserving their cultural heritage. This program, initiated in 2009, has been pivotal for traditional owners who are now actively contributing through their own ranger teams.

        RMMAC Rangers play a crucial role in caring for the country and cultural heritage in the Riverland. Their duties include safeguarding burial sites and culturally significant locations, which not only preserves history but also instills a sense of pride and responsibility in the younger generation. The program encompasses a diverse range of activities from environmental assessments to technical training, equipping the participants with valuable skills.

          Beyond the immediate environmental benefits, the RMMAC Rangers initiative has profound social impacts. It breaks cycles of adversity by offering employment, instills confidence among youth, and strengthens community bonds. The presence of the Rangers serves as a symbol of transformation and empowerment, showcasing that with opportunity, indigenous communities can thrive.

            Chapters

            • 00:00 - 01:00: Introduction The chapter introduces the content with background music, possibly indicating the start of a new segment or section. Specific details about the subject matter to be covered are not provided, potentially due to a placeholder or missing transcript content.
            • 01:00 - 03:00: Restoration Work and Community Impact The chapter titled 'Restoration Work and Community Impact' involves a conversation with Fiona Giles, the ranger coordinator of the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation rangers. Fiona discusses the historical context of their journey, noting that their consent determination, which acknowledges their rights, was officially recognized in 2011. This recognition came after many years of struggle and efforts to establish the corporation. The narrative likely explores the implications of this determination on community work, restoration efforts, and possibly the role of this corporation in local environmental and cultural preservation initiatives.
            • 03:00 - 05:00: Program Growth and Development The chapter titled 'Program Growth and Development' discusses the indigenous land use agreement which covers a vast area from the bottom of Morgan to the New South Wales border. The chapter also touches upon the work done by the Rangers under the RMMAC indigenous land use agreement. Additionally, it mentions the origin of the Riverland Ranger program, which began in 2009 at Calperum station.
            • 05:00 - 09:00: Personal and Social Benefits The chapter discusses the collaboration with traditional owners who, since March, have established their own Ranger team. This development is noted as a long-held aspiration of the community, emphasizing the personal and social benefits of having such a team. The chapter highlights the repeated message of the significance and positive impact of having the Ranger team in place.
            • 09:00 - 10:00: Conclusion and Future Aspirations The chapter highlights the importance of involving young people in the conservation and protection of cultural heritage. It focuses on the RMMAC Rangers' responsibility to care for cultural sites across the Riverland, including the assessment, preservation, and protection of such heritage. This involves activities such as identifying and helping with the conservation of indigenous burial sites.

            RMMAC Rangers Performance Story 2022 Transcription

            • 00:00 - 00:30 [Music] foreign
            • 00:30 - 01:00 [Music] foreign [Music] I'm Fiona Giles  I'm the ranger coordinator of   the river Murray and Mallee  Aboriginal Corporation rangers our consent determination was recognized in 2011.   it was a long fight before then so it's been  going on for years to create the corporation
            • 01:00 - 01:30 and our indigenous land use agreement covers from the bottom of Morgan to the  New South Wales border and the Rangers   we work on all of the RMMAC  indigenous land use agreement [Music]   the Riverland Ranger program started back  uh in 2009 out at uh Calperum station
            • 01:30 - 02:00 um and there we went on to working with  the traditional owners the traditional   owners now since March have  had their own Ranger team A ranger team has I've got to say from my  experience has been an aspiration of this   community for many many years um and you know  the thing that the message that gets repeated
            • 02:00 - 02:30 time and time again is about getting  young folk out um caring for country so as an RMMAC Ranger I feel it's  our responsibility to take care of   the cultural heritage that's scattered  throughout the Riverland it's to assess   that cultural heritage and  to preserve and protect it we help with burial sites any uh in  indigenous burial sites that we find
            • 02:30 - 03:00 will help cover them up and protect them any  cultural heritage sites of significance we help   protect [Music] I'm learning more about my culture  and my history, so the more I learn the better too   that I can teach the younger generation about it  so we can pass it on to them so they can learn and
            • 03:00 - 03:30 take the lead and teach their  younger generation [Music] the scope of this program  I think is just fantastic   that these these young people are getting in   to those broader broader aspects of their Heritage  that you know their Landscapes their country we've been doing some tadpoing and things  this season we've did some tree health looking
            • 03:30 - 04:00 at trees had to describe them in their  health we've done train soaring fencing um did a bit of meetings with  other people other organizations   getting all of our all of our training so like  um like a chainsaw training and our four drive   that's coming up all those sort of tickets  to get us to a better spot a better position
            • 04:00 - 04:30 have a new ranger team has its  benefits in employment of our people   um look at exposure to the community our  networking has broadened and I actually   am promoting RMMAC to people that haven't  had the opportunity to come and meet us yet
            • 04:30 - 05:00 [Music] having the arrangers on board has been  really exciting and for our board of directors they're proud of them because this  has been a part of the country   part of our country planning was to  get that as part of our strategic plan   for the five years was to create this  Ranger team so we've finally got it
            • 05:00 - 05:30 [Music] so I was speaking with one of the elders  the other day and they were real pleased   about seeing the young ones out with their  uniforms on you know going out to places   so they were very proud of them as well so in our  community at the moment there's a buzz about you   know we've got our Rangers there you know and  then and then that gives a younger generation   also you know saying maybe in the near future  that they can become one too [Music] foreign
            • 05:30 - 06:00 [Music]   family Cycles the cycles of drugs and  alcohol um and showing that community   especially the young fellas these fellas  are a role model to show them that you can
            • 06:00 - 06:30 you can work and you are worthy of work and  the knowledge you learn from your people   and your families is valued  and needed in the community [Music]   I think it's important to talk about  the changes that happen in the people sometimes it might be just a little  change that is the biggest thing
            • 06:30 - 07:00 [Music] it's a benefit to them  emotionally socially financially um   it benefits them in the community their  self-confidence has grown they're exposed to   um people that have never would have had  opportunities to talk to to meet to work alongside
            • 07:00 - 07:30 I was able to get off the ground get off  the you know the drugs and concentrate on   my family and concentrate on me as  a person and build my self-esteem foreign [Music] makes me makes me feel  like a like I'm a part of something and   yeah it gives me gives me pride in my in my job
            • 07:30 - 08:00 because this uh program rolls out   I'm just seeing more and more confidence  in these guys in the in the ranger team I was like not a really talkative person and  like stand in front of everybody and talk like   um was really shy but being in this job has taught  me that you don't have to be shame and shy [Music]
            • 08:00 - 08:30 I definitely think that being involved  in the ranger team has increased my   confidence beforehand I never used to like um  speaking in front of people I didn't like um   doing a lot of things that involved  a lot of teamwork but now it's uh   different I've opened my eyes to working  with other people and it's helped a lot
            • 08:30 - 09:00 I feel like a few of the changes I see in  myself yeah I feel a lot more confident and   proud to be who I am where I am but not only  that I can see confidence in the the younger   fellas and that gives me I won't use the  word satisfaction but it gives me fulfillment [Music] I'm very proud of the Ranger team now
            • 09:00 - 09:30 I mean watching them grow from when they first  started off and then watching what they're doing   now and very proud of what they've been  doing looking after the country [Music]   it's giving it's giving the opportunities that  we need and at the end of the day that's all   we need we just need an opportunity we don't  need handout we just need an opportunity to   prove that we can actually get out and do these  things and the armac ranges are one of the groups
            • 09:30 - 10:00 that are getting out and doing that improving  that we can actually get on and get it done foreign [Music]