For the past several years, Navy has been evolving its relationship and connection to the people of Blue Mud Bay with support from local Elder Djambawa Marawili.
In 2023, Dr Marawili presented a bark artwork called the Spirit of Sea Rights to Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond at the Indo-Pacific Sea Power Conference in Sydney.
This gift has been used to evolve a shared maritime narrative that includes First Nations people and a connection to the sea.
Sea country is vital for the physical, cultural and spiritual wellbeing of First Nations people, and also as a source of sustenance. It is a sacred space for ancestral connection and a cornerstone of identity and belonging.
Both leaders share similar responsibilities to the environment, evolving the culture and leadership of their people and the protection of the nation and its interests.
From this, the Saltwater Leadership Program was developed.
After considerable deliberation, informed by the shared connection to the sea, the decision was made to build a traditional lippa-lippa canoe.
'When we work together, we carry more than each other - we carry our shared warrior spirit and our culture of a shared maritime narrative.'
Dr Marawili said it was a meaningful initiative.
"This is a new thing for the next generation at Bäniyala," he said. "This thing, sailing a lippa-lippa, our ancestors learned from the Makassans that worked with us in Blue Mud Bay.
"We have not made lippa-lippa for many years and not sailed once since the 1990s. Navy is joining with us to use this knowledge and inspire a new generation of saltwater leaders."
A small contingent of Navy personnel has been working alongside the Yolŋu people from Bäniyala in East Arnhem, Northern Territory, to build the lippa-lippa, with the intent of sailing it across the ceremonial waters of Blue Mud Bay.
Selecting the right tree took time, as not just any tree could be used.
The Elders needed to spiritually engage the environment, as the tree is considered a gift from Country. For First Nations people, respecting Country is fundamental.
The tree was carved out to a shallow but hardened hull and waterproofed by scorching the timber with fire.
Navy Indigenous Adviser Commander Michael Henry said the team was working well together on their shared mission.
"Carving the canoe is only one aspect of building the lippa-lippa; paddles need to be carved, masts and sails need to be fabricated and outriggers built," he said.
"The building of the canoe with community is very symbolic.
"When we work together, we carry more than each other - we carry our shared warrior spirit and our culture of a shared maritime narrative forward to the benefit of all people."