Outback Academy hosts climate change workshop to encourage utilising elder knowledge.

A South West Aboriginal-led not-for-profit group has shined a light on the importance of “understanding the knowledge of the elders” when addressing the impacts of climate change on farming. Held on National Sorry Day by Woolkabunning Kiaka Aboriginal Corporation and Outback Academy Australia at Roelands Village, the workshop included discussions around drought, drying climates, damaged Country and food sustainability. Event facilitator and Wudjari Noongar man Kelly Flugge put into context drought resilience in relation to climate change impacts and how they could be addressed. Acknowledging the significance of the May 26 workshop date Mr Flugge said it was a time to look to the future and be sure not to “repeat past mistakes”. “What causes drought is the inability to adapt to things that impact our natural environment, it’s around observations of the landscape and it is critical we understand the knowledge of the elders,” he said. Mr Flugge said there was an opportunity to “bring knowledge bases together” in order to care for the land and address the challenges caused by climate change. “The science suggests a significant drying trend in South West WA, we can expect climate change to accelerate drying of our country,” he said. “This is an opportunity to bring knowledge bases together, understanding that we need western science and also cultural knowledge in an aim to fix soils and earth systems and regenerate landscapes.” Outback Academy as well as the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development have formed a partnership to support First Nations farmers in WA as part of a Follow the Flowers initiative and during the workshop discussed examples of support and collaboration for resilience building.