SUSTAINING MAMU WATERWAYS, PROTECTING MAMU CULTURE

Mamu unites Traditional Knowledge and Western science to protect vital waterways for Mamu People and Country

^{Photo by: Mamu Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC}

^{Story created in collaboration with Mamu Traditional Owners.}

The Mamu Waterway Health Project represents a powerful collaboration between the Mamu Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC and Terrain Natural Resource Management (NRM), with the shared goal of preserving and protecting the cultural and environmental health of Mamu waterways.

This long-term program runs until 2026, and has been implemented across three projects funded by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s Traditional Owner Grants Program, which was designed by Traditional Owners, for Traditional Owners. The program provides funding and leadership opportunities to Traditional Owner groups undertaking Reef protection activities, including water management initiatives across the Great Barrier Reef and its catchments.

Photo by Mamu Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC.

Since its inception in 2021, the Mamu Waterway Health Project has been a significant undertaking, bringing together Mamu Traditional Knowledge and Western scientific methodologies to monitor waterway health. Extensive consultation sessions were held with Traditional Custodians during the project’s first phase. Guided by planning consultant Melanie Dulfer-Hyams, Mamu people mapped out cultural values, rights and interests across Mamu water systems. These consultations informed the development of key indicators that would guide future water monitoring efforts.

As the project moved into its second phase, the focus shifted towards the active monitoring and reporting of waterway health across Mamu Country. This phase included the development of the Mamu Waterway Management Strategy and the Mamu Waterway Healthy Monitoring Plan, essential tools for ensuring ongoing environmental stewardship. These steps not only advanced water quality monitoring but also fostered new partnerships that have become integral to the project’s long-term success.

Collecting water sample — A Mamu Traditional Owner collects water samples from Henrietta Creek, part of their water quality monitoring efforts. Photo by Mamu Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC.

The Mamu Waterway Health Project has continued to build upon this foundation by enhancing knowledge-sharing practices and identifying key cultural values that were previously underrepresented in regional water management frameworks. The project serves as a bridge between traditional cultural practices and modern environmental management strategies, reinforcing Mamu Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC’s role in safeguarding their Country’s waterways.

Learn more about Mamu Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC and their work on Country.