Indigenous Ranger Program Funded

Member for Solomon, David Tollner announced today a $27,000 grant from the Federal Government to help a Northern Territory Indigenous community look after their important heritage places as part of the Australian Government's Indigenous Heritage Programme.
"This funding helps protect Australia's Indigenous places and their stories and gives us all an opportunity to discover and share our local Indigenous heritage.”

"The grant to Mimal Ranger Group, who are sponsored by the Northern Land Council, will help to continue the preservation of Mimal culture through sharing traditional knowledge and sacred site management under the Back to Country, Back to Basics project,” Mr Tollner said.
"Young people and community members will be taken onto traditional country with senior Elders, so stories, histories, songs, ceremonies and other traditional knowledge can be recorded and shared. Gathering of bush foods and hunting will also take place.”

Mr Tollner said the project was important to the entire community, as it was interwoven with the rich tapestry of the Australian story.
"Through the Indigenous Heritage Programme the Australian Government is working with local communities and Traditional Owners to ensure future generations can experience and appreciate our diverse Indigenous heritage,” Mr Tollner said.

"My congratulations to Mimal Ranger Group on their successful grant. This project is one of 42 projects around the country being supported by a $3.5 million funding package under the 2007–08 Indigenous Heritage Programme.”

Along with $2.6 million in grants for projects in this initial announcement, funding will go into other Indigenous heritage initiatives through Shared Responsibility Agreements and Regional Partnership Agreements.

For more information about Indigenous Heritage visit www.heritage.gov.au

2007-07-20