Paper short abstract:

In this paper we explore the benefits offered and challenges posed by collaborative mapping and digital storytelling to support the resurgence of environmental custodianship in Walbanga Land and Sea Country (South Coast, NSW)

Paper long abstract:

For several decades, members of the Walbanga community have aspired to strengthen their capacity to influence development and environmental management decisions across their territory. Located on the populated southeastern seaboard, Walbanga Country is facing continuous development pressure from urban expansion, population growth, commercial fishing and tourism. So far, Traditional Owners have had little say over the region’s future. Their contributions to the consultations underpinning Batemans Marine Park’s creation was unsuccessful in having their rights, responsibilities and the deep connections that they, as saltwater people, hold towards their coastal and marine environments recognised. Despite being a sizeable percentage of Mogo and Batemans Bay region’s population, Walbanga history, relationship to Country and environmental custodianship practices have remained relatively invisible to the general population. The bushfire that devastated Mogo and Batemans Bay over the last hours of 2019 was, however, a stark reminder of the urgency of developing risk mitigation, adaptation and responses to future threats associated with climate change framed by Walbanga philosophies, knowledge and aspirations.

In this paper, we explore the benefits offered and challenges posed by collaborative mapping and digital storytelling to support the resurgence of environmental custodianship in Walbanga land and sea Country. We examine whether the growing accessibility of Indigenous knowledge applications, mapping technologies and digital storytelling platforms can facilitate Indigenous peoples’ resurgence projects and performance of their sovereignty. Can these platforms help increase the wider public’s comprehension of past and contemporary Indigenous reciprocal engagements with their territories, shift Indigenous peoples-settlers’ relations and settlers’ engagements with Country?