Traceylee Forester
Indigenous Partnerships Coordinator
Australian Institute of Marine Science
Abstract
The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) is Australia’s tropical marine research agency. We believe that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the Australian Institute of Marine Science have a strong and productive shared future in marine science. We recognise that natural synergies exist between AIMS’ research interests and the management and protection of Sea Country interests of Traditional Owners on the coasts and continental shelf of northern Australia – from Exmouth to the southern Great Barrier Reef. We believe in the importance of working hand-in-hand with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to develop a better understanding of each other and our marine environments.
We have benefited first-hand from the mutual learning that comes from working closely with Traditional Owners and are committed to building further meaningful relationships based on trust and respect and achieving mutually beneficial outcomes from sharing experience and knowledge. Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Strategy is our commitment to this outcome.
This seminar will present aspects of AIMS’ Strategic Plan, the engagement indicators and how these aspirations interact with Traditional Owners around the coastal areas of tropical Australia. This presentation will also include: engagement from the perspective of a Traditional Owner group from Cape York, QLD; consideration of the cultural protocols and restrictions that may impact on building meaningful partnerships with the First Nation Peoples; interaction of scientists and researchers with Traditional Owners, particularly regarding the intersection of western science and traditional knowledge; and, is it possible to merge the two schools of thought?
About Traceylee Forester
Traceylee is a Lama Lama / Nywaigi woman from North Queensland. She has spent the majority of her working life, assisting Indigenous people with the management of their land and sea countries, being an advocate and helping to empower the voice of our First Nation’s people. Traceylee was the first Indigenous board secretariat for the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory and, she was also responsible for setting up a Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (TUMRA) for her Lama Lama People of Cape York. Currently, Traceylee works at the Australian Institute of Marine Science as their first Indigenous Partnerships Coordinator.
