CBCSers recently took part in cultural learning activities on Quandamooka Country.
On 5 December 2022, the Sustainable Urban Seascapes Moreton Bay (SUSMB) Team as well as staff and students from the UQ Moreton Bay Research Station participated in On Country Cultural Awareness and Competency Training. SUSMB is a UQ strategic research investment led by Associate Professor Carissa Klein and Professor John Pandolfini.
The cultural awareness and education program was led by the Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders-in-Council (MMEIC) to neembeeba binung gana (see, listen, understand) and develop competencies in traditional ways of life and learn about the impacts of historical events on Tjerrangerri (Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island). The neembeeba binung gana full-day training included an Elder’s Welcome to Country; viewing the Elders museum and history boards; a smoking ceremony; songs and dances; a guided tour of the Terra Bulla Bush Tucker Trail; and guided visit to Terra Bulla (Myora Mission), Bummiera (Brown Lake) and Moolomba (Point Lookout).
A delicious gourmet bush tucker lunch was provided by the MMEIC with an assortment of traditional and local dishes. The afternoon included a Yarning Circle which enabled UQ scientists to ask the MMEIC Elders questions about traditional ways of life and the ongoing impacts of colonisation to the community. The Yarning Circle also enabled conversations about how we can better work together to support community priorities and uphold First Nations rights across Quandamooka Country.
SUSMB Research Showcase
The SUSMB Team hosted a UQ Research Showcase at the UQ Moreton Bay Research Station on 6 December to highlight the research from the SUSMB programs and identify future research priorities and projects. The day was facilitated by Quandamooka woman Tegan Burns, and enabled conversations and discussions between UQ researchers, Elders from the MMEIC, community members and industry partners. Uncle Norm from MMEIC started the UQ Research Showcase in positive way with a Welcome to Country. This was followed by the SUSMB researcher presentations which highlighted the major findings from the past 18 months; these included presentations by Ilha Byrne, CBCS student Bridey Crowe, and early career researchers Gal Eyal and Nathaniel Deering.
Bridey presented the findings of Mapping Social Values of Moreton Bay, an interdisciplinary research project to understand how recreational boaters use and value Moreton Bay. Dr Eyal presented a snapshot of the photogrammetry work his team has been conducting to capture the distribution and seasonal changes in coral communities in the region. Ilha complemented this work by presenting an overview of the environmental DNA biomonitoring project that has been conducted alongside the photogrammetry work. Dr Deering finished the talks by showcasing an incredible dataset on the water quality of region obtained from thousands of sediment samples.
Speed talks and a poster session allowed for more networking and conversation surrounding the ongoing work across Moreton Bay. A Yarning Circle was led by Tegan Burns which allowed for insightful conversation centred around the topics of 1) working and engaging with Indigenous groups; 2) research priorities for Quandamooka Country; and 3) future collaborations and opportunities for funding.
Hero image: Uncle Norm from the Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders-in-Council brought the UQ SUSMB Team to see a traditional rock fish trap at low tide. Photo: Carissa Klein
Image above: All of the participants of the On Country Cultural Awareness and Competency Training, following a beautiful smoking ceremony presented by the MMEIC. Photo: Kate Adams, Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders-in-Council Aboriginal Corporation
