Learning from Land and Sea Country - part of Global Bioregional Month

Join us for a special webinar that will discuss Aboriginal bio-cultural governance, co-hosted with the Juunjuwarra Land and Sea Rangers, from Cape York.

100 years ago Juunjuwarra people were removed from their country at Starcke River, Cape York, Australia. In 1993, after an extensive campaign, Juunjuwarra won back their homelands and have only recently returned to country. In this webinar discussion, Mike Winer and Neil Jacko will discuss the work they're doing to heal Country and heal people, and return their ancient bioregional governance practices to their Country and community.

Juunjuwarra Country is an expansive and sensitive environment, renowned for its bio-diversity and cultural richness. It contains 12 significant, interconnected, diverse and culturally rich habitats: rare and isolated highland rainforest connects to woodland escarpments, that flow to a rich coastal plain with diverse forest types including tea tree forests, woodlands, rare coastal rainforest, littoral rainforest and riverine rainforest.

Located in spectacular Cape York (Queensland, Australia), Juunjuwarra Country features

·         One Water Catchment – Starcke River

·         One People – Juunjuwarra

·         One Governance System – Cultural

·         One Ambition- Healing People and Country

To learn more about the Juunjuwarra programs, please visit: https://www.jjcorporation.com.au/

ABOUT BIOREGIONING

Bioregioning is a Western word for an ancient concept. Bioregioning or ‘bioregionalism’ sees human societies and culture as part of nature, and proposes that modern human societies can be more sustainable, successful and meaningful, if our political, cultural and economic systems are organised within natural boundaries such as bioregions and catchments (watersheds). While First Nations Peoples have practiced bioregional and biocultural governance for millennia, many modern industrialised societies are only now rediscovering and experimenting with bioregioning, and learning how nature can be a guide for sustainable human societies.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS

NEIL JACKO

Neil Jacko is a Juunjuwarra leader and healer. At just 12 years old, Neil joined the Juunjuwarra/Wilderness Society Starcke East Coast campaign (in 1993) that led to the successful acquisition and return of his Starcke Homeland. Neil is currently Chair of Juunjuwarra Corporation and Ngulun Land Trust and sits on several other Boards. Neil is a strong cultural leader who is bringing back cultural Law and Lore to Juunjuwarra governance, Land and Sea Management and Social and Health Healing. Neil is a mentor to many Juunjuwarra and manages the Juunjuwarra Land and Sea stewardship program.

“ When I sit on country and listen to my ancestors, my country tells me what it needs”

MICHAEL WINER

Michael Winer has worked for 40 years in conservation, civil society and Indigenous peoples rights. He ran the Canberra branch of the Wilderness Society in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, campaigning for the Southeast NSW Forests. He then moved to Cairns and set up a Wilderness Society branch where he coordinated the Starcke Acquisition Campaign that set the foundation for land acquisition for conservation and Aboriginal freehold expansion across Cape York. Michael then founded Jawun, Australia’s first major Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program and then worked managing the caring for country portfolio at the Cape York Institute. Michael has returned to where he started and is now Mentor/CEO of Juunjuwarra Aboriginal Corporation

HOSTED BY MICHELLE MALONEY

Dr Michelle Maloney is the National Convenor of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA), and an advocate for ecocentric and bioregional governance. Michelle holds a PhD in law from Griffith University and creates and manages a range of multi-disciplinary and transdisciplinary programs within AELA. To read about Michelle's international affiliations, teaching, publications and other programs please visit: www.michellemaloney.au

ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN EARTH LAWS ALLIANCE (AELA)

AELA is a not-for-profit organisation working to increase the understanding and practical implementation of Earth-centred (ecocentric) governance, with a focus on systems change across law, economics, education, ethics and community participation in Australia. AELA's vision is an Australian society that embraces an ecocentric or ‘life-centred’ culture, with governance systems that enable human communities to thrive within ecological boundaries, while nurturing biodiversity and ecosystem health. AELA's work includes education programs and project support for people, communities and organisations working to create ecocentric and bioregional systems change.

For more information, visit our website: www.earthlaws.org.au
or email us anytime: aela@earthlaws.org.au