Chapter 1
The architecture of the reef
Chapter 2
The bustling underwater metropolis
Chapter 3
First Nations custodianship
Chapter 4
The modern battle for survival
Ch 3 · First Nations custodianship
matilda First Nations Reef Custodianship
On the dry floor, / Waters rose, / Story lives on.
matilda Indigenous seasonal calendars track natural cycles instead of calendar months.
matilda Robotic Reef Guardians
RangerBots sow the reef with baby coral (baby coral!) / Helping damaged ocean gardens grow (watch them grow!)
BETA
matilda Match traditional practices to seasonal signs to discover how First Nations custodianship protects the reef.
matilda Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups view this marine environment as Sea Country, connecting land, water, and ancestral spirits.
Quiz
For how long have Indigenous Australians held a continuous cultural connection to the Great Barrier Reef region?
Quiz
What term do Indigenous Australians use to describe the interconnected marine areas they culturally manage?
matilda Rising oceans drowned ancient limestone hills, submerging 150 meters of coastal territory.
Quiz
Approximately how many years ago did rising sea levels submerge the land, allowing the modern Great Barrier Reef to form?
Fun Fact
Ancient maps in stories: Some Indigenous oral histories accurately describe coastal landmarks that have been underwater for over 7,000 years.
Quiz
What is a 'totem' in many Indigenous Australian cultures, which helps protect specific reef species?
Quiz
How do Traditional Owners traditionally determine the best and most sustainable times to harvest specific marine resources?
Glossary
traditional owner (noun)
An Indigenous person recognized as having traditional rights and spiritual affiliations with a specific ancestral area. More than seventy Traditional Owner groups have managed the Great Barrier Reef for over sixty thousand years.
An Indigenous person recognized as having traditional rights and spiritual affiliations with a specific ancestral area. More than seventy Traditional Owner groups have managed the Great Barrier Reef for over sixty thousand years.
Quiz
Which vulnerable marine mammal, closely related to manatees, is actively monitored and protected by Indigenous Sea Rangers?
Quiz
Approximately how many distinct Indigenous Traditional Owner groups have cultural authority over parts of the Great Barrier Reef?