Northern Tanami Indigenous Protected Area Declared

Member for Lingiari and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and
Indigenous Affairs Warren Snowdon today welcomed the declaration of the
Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) over a large area of the northern Tanami.

Mr Snowdon said it would mean a huge boost to Lajamanu community and
particularly to its young people.

'It's a serious investment in the future of Aboriginal people in the bush which will
mean jobs, environmental and cultural protection and the secure transmission of
traditional knowledge from generation to generation,' he said.

'And it will offer a richer experience for bush tourism, which has been growing slowly
but steadily in this region, as in many other parts of remote Northern Australia.

'What is significant about the work on the IPA is that it will be based on
traditonal skills and knowledge.

'The Wulaign Rangers have already begun work on rehabilitating the old Tanami Mine
site and, as well as running a flora and fauna survey, they're doing controlled burning
and other land management that builds on the old people's knowledge.

'Projects like this mean jobs, skills and a sound cultural foundation, which in turn
mean self-esteem and a feeling of belonging instead of alienation and self-
destructive behaviours.

'And they give young people good reasons for building a worthwhile life in the bush,
which is a positive move that anticipates and prevents the problems associated with
urban drift.

'The people of Lajamanu, with the support of the Central Land Council and
the Australian Government's Department of the Environment, have taken an important
step today toward securing their future, Mr Snowdon said.

2007-04-30