Story created in collaboration with Dabu Jajikal Aboriginal Corporation.
In far north Queensland, where rainforest meets reef, the Dabu Jajikal people care for a vast and deeply connected Country. Their land stretches from Obree Point in the north to Emmagen Creek in the south, while their sea Country reaches from the outer reefs of Agincourt Reef back to Cedar Bay along the Wet Tropics coast. For Dabu Jajikal, land, sea, people, culture and ancestors are not separate - they are one living system, connected through time.
This understanding sits at the heart of all of Dabu Jajikal's work. Their Land and Sea Country Planning Project, supported by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation through its Stage 1 Grant Program, established Dabu Jajikal's priorities for looking after their people and Country, long into the future.
Traditional ecological knowledge is critical to the long-term health of the Great Barrier Reef. Pictured: Dabu Jajikal elder Barry Olbar.
#From planning to practical action
Developed by Traditional Owners for Traditional Owners, the project created pathways for Dabu Jajikal people to strengthen their leadership, skills and decision-making, while setting a clear vision for how they want to care for Country now and into the future. This work was not only about protecting Country today, but about building strong partnerships and supporting the next generation of Dabu Jajikal leaders.
This planning work laid the foundation for a growing suite of projects led by the Dabu Jajikal Aboriginal Corporation (DJAC). Each project since has strengthened the organisation's capacity and confidence, moving from planning into practical action on Country. This includes caring for important coastal places like Balabay (Weary Bay), mapping cultural and heritage values across saltwater Country, surveying and protecting culturally significant waterways such as Plantation Creek, and developing monitoring and reporting systems that reflect Dabu Jajikal ways of knowing as well as scientific approaches.
A strong focus across all this work is empowerment. DJAC has grown its governance, project management and financial administration skills, enabling the organisation to directly manage grants and partnerships. This growth has also supported the establishment of a full-time Dabu Jajikal ranger team, a long-held aspiration of Elders and a critical step in caring for Country every day.
Women's leadership is another important part of the story. Through initiatives like the Women's Healthy Water Cultural Values Unit, Dabu Jajikal women are leading efforts to document water cultural values, share knowledge across generations, and connect with other Indigenous women caring for land and sea Country.
Ranger Cinique (Topsy) Gibson says she's been inspired to undertake a degree in marine biology.
#Strengthening land and sea Country
Together, these projects show what is possible when Traditional Owners are supported to lead on their own terms. By combining cultural knowledge with Western science, investing in people and partnerships, and grounding decisions in deep connections to Country, Dabu Jajikal are strengthening the health of their land and sea - and contributing to a healthier Great Barrier Reef for future generations.
To learn more about Dabu Jajikal Aboriginal Corporation and their work caring for Country, visit jajikal.com.au.
