Martu rangers and language workers from the Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa Aboriginal Corporation have been travelling across Western Australia's Western Desert this month, documenting knowledge about native plants found on Martu Country.

For thousands of years, Martu people have identified bush foods and medicines this way, passing it down orally across generations.

Working alongside ethnobotanist Dr Fiona Walsh and Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa's linguists, the team visited Jigalong, Punmu and Newman to record ninti — Martu knowledge — connected to plants found on Martu ngurra, or Country.

The project creates a culturally safe record of that knowledge, guided by Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa elders and rangers, to support future language and learning resources.

Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa, which supports Martu people across the Western Desert, has been running ranger and cultural programs since 2006, following the successful determination of Martu Native Title in 2002.

The organisation is based in the remote communities of Jigalong, Punmu, Parnngurr and Kunawarritji, with rangers caring for vast areas of desert Country spanning the Pilbara and Western Desert regions.

During the recent field trips, more than 14 audio recordings were made, capturing information about bush foods and medicinal plants.

Dr Fiona Walsh, who has worked with Martu people for decades, said the project was "about supporting Martu people to hold and control their own knowledge, in ways that are culturally safe and useful for teaching young people".

A key part of the project was the involvement of jijikaja — children — who joined on-Country day trips alongside Elders and rangers.

Children zealously watched Elders identify plants, explain their uses and speak language on Country.

The recordings will support the development of Martu language and learning resources, helping strengthen the use of Martu Wangka — the collective name for the Western Desert languages spoken by Martu people, including Manyjilyjarra, Warnman and Kartujarra.

Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa said the work forms part of a broader effort to ensure Martu culture continues to be lived, spoken and practised, not just archived.

By keeping the recordings under Martu control, the organisation aims to protect cultural knowledge while supporting its use in ranger programs, schools and community-led learning.