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First Nations Engagement

The CLLMM region is culturally significant to the Ngarrindjeri and First Nations of the South-East communities. It has been their home for thousands of years and will continue to be their home in the face of future climate change. The First Nations knowledge of the region will be critical for the CLLMM Research Centre to understand the implications of future climate change in the region as they have oral histories and Creation stories which connect them to place, time and their ancestors. The CLLMM region is described in detail throughout these histories and provides an insight into how the various environments of the region were created and interact with each other, and how to live sustainably within them.

 

The CLLMM Research Centre supports First Nations community well-being, providing an opportunity for knowledge creation and sharing, and the incorporation of the scientific knowledge of First Nations, the community, governments and researchers into the management of the region. The CLLMM Research Centre will achieve this through locally-based research in which community and First Nations can participate and lead in cultural and scientific activities, that build upon existing cultural knowledge and empowers communities to take charge of the management of their land and waters.

Lake Albert eDNA sampling

The CLLMM Region is comprised of primarily 2 Aboriginal Nations:

Ngarrindjeri Nation

The Ngarrindjeri nation is an Aboriginal nation consisting currently of 3 main dialect groups; the Ramindjeri; Yaraldi and; Tanganekald. These dialect groups are further divided into 18 Laklinyerar (clans), then further into individual family groups who occupy the lands and waters of the CLLMM Region, and held their own Nga:tjar (totems). The Ngarrindjeri nation extends up the Murray River from Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert, down the length of the Coorong and through the coastal area to Encounter Bay.

Boandik

The Boandik, or First Nations of the South-East are an Aboriginal nation divided into 5 main tribes; the Booandik; Mootatunga/Meintangk; Putarawutj; Witchintunga and; the Ngarkat. Each tribe inhabited their own territory, ranging from north of Lacepede Bay at Salt Creek, South Australia, across to Bordertown on the Victorian border, and then south to the coast where the mouth of the Glenelg river in far western Victoria formed the south-eastern corner. Each tribe spoke different dialects of the Bunganditj language 
(language of the Boadik) and all share a common matrilineal culture/society.

map of language groups in the region

*Information on map may differ based on historic or cultural knowledge provider. 

Ngarrindjeri Language and CLLMM Projects

Come and join us in 2025 to have a yarn in Ngarrindjeri and hear about the exciting projects we've been working on at the CLLMM Research Centre. Whether you're just starting or you're a deadly thuggari yanamaldi, everyone is welcome. This is a relaxed space to connect, share and learn together. We've scheduled online, First Nations only and session for everyone. Click on the register button for dates and more information.

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ABOUT US >

We are a new, collaborative partnership working to create locally-driven and inclusive knowledge creation and exchange to inform decision making in the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region. We acknowledge people of the Ngarrindjeri and First Nations of the South East as traditional owners of the region in which we work.

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The Goyder Institute for Water Research will receive $8 million from the Australian Government over 4 years from 2023-26 to work with communities to investigate the impacts of climate change on the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) region. 

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The Goyder Institute for Water Research is a research partnership of the South Australian Government through the Department for Environment and Water, CSIRO, Flinders University, the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia.

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