The federal government has announced 17 new projects under the second round of the $5.5 million First Nations Heritage Grants Program, which funds efforts to manage and protect First Nations cultural heritage across Australia.
In a statement, the government said more than $3 million has been delivered to help identify and safeguard cultural heritage values at existing World and National Heritage-listed places. The announcement follows the inscription of the Murujuga Cultural Landscape — home to the world's largest collection of ancient rock art — on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The program is designed to address the historic under-representation of Indigenous cultural heritage values. It funds on-Country projects where Indigenous communities lead the identification, assessment, recording and protection of their cultural heritage.
Australia currently has 124 places on the National Heritage List and 21 on the World Heritage List.
Under this latest round, projects in Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia will each receive up to $250,000 to carry out heritage work at these significant sites.
In Queensland, the Waanyi Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC has been awarded $250,000 to identify new cultural heritage values at the Riversleigh World Heritage Area. Activities will include collating and analysing existing research and consulting senior Waanyi knowledge holders.
Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said the government was committed to strengthening recognition of Indigenous heritage values.
"That's why we are providing more than $3 million to identify and preserve the First Nations cultural heritage values of both Land and Sea Country for future generations," the Minister said.
"Our country is rich in natural and culturally significant locations for First Nations people which need our protection, and we are proud to be working with Traditional Owners at these special places to make this happen."
In Western Australia, the Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation will receive $200,000 to identify and document cultural heritage values in Sea Country within the West Kimberley National Heritage-listed area. The work will include technical workshops, knowledge sharing between elders and young people, and documenting cultural sites.
In New South Wales, the Yanama Budyari Gumada Aboriginal Corporation will be granted $250,000 to document and protect previously unrecorded cultural heritage values at Mount Hay in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The project will be a collaboration between Dharug Elders and archaeologists.
Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt said the program was an important step in improving the protection of heritage places.
"This program improves the way we protect our listed First Nations heritage places and provides an opportunity to identify Indigenous values across other World and National Heritage listed sites," Minister Watt said.
"It is critical Traditional Owners are supported to lead work to identify and record these First Nations heritage values, so future generations can engage and learn about our rich history."
Further information and a full list of grant recipients can be found online.
