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  • 11 months ago
First Nations groups have described South Australia's toxic algal outbreak as a "cultural emergency", saying they want a bigger role in monitoring and responding to the devastating outbreak. One Aboriginal community leader says the bloom has affected their ability to practice their culture... and is making their people sick.

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00:00Setting up for a smoking ceremony to heal country.
00:20Kaurna and Naderi man Alan Sumner is calling on his ancestors to help heal the sea as South
00:25Australia's algal bloom continues to kill countless sea creatures.
00:31It really hurts.
00:32We are water people.
00:34We rely on the water for not only for fishing and practice but cultural ceremonies and practices.
00:40The coastline is where they connect with country, recount dreaming stories and practice their
00:45culture through dance and language.
00:48But that's been disrupted as dead fish wash ashore and algae aerosols cause respiratory
00:53symptoms.
00:54When I come here and see that the coastline is sick, that the water is sick, then it
01:02makes us sick.
01:04The traditional owners of the York Peninsula, or Gurinder, say they should be at the forefront
01:09when it comes to looking after sea country.
01:11At the moment we seem to be at odds with the current system that continues to leave us out
01:20on the conversations that are important.
01:22Environment Minister Susan Close says the government's algal bloom reference group has Aboriginal members
01:27with expertise in marine science and ecological restoration.
01:30She says the government has briefed the First Nations voice to parliament on the algal bloom response and is considering the best ways to engage
01:38with First Nations corporations and organisations moving forward.
01:42Mr Sumner says First Nations knowledge and Western science could work together to help the environment recover.
01:50They can't do this by themselves.
01:53They've got to use indigenous knowledges, knowledges that have come since the first sunrise in this country.
01:59Holding hope for healthier seas.
02:01For more information, visit www.fema.gov.au.au.
02:02For more information, visit www.fema.au.au.
02:03For more information, visit www.fema.au.au.
02:04For more information, visit www.fema.au.au.
02:06For more information, visit www.fema.au.au.
02:07For more information, visit www.fema.au.au.
02:08For more information, visit www.fema.au.au.
02:09For more information, visit www.fema.au.au.
02:10For more information, visit www.fema.au.au.
02:11For more information, visit www.fema.au.au.
02:12For more information, visit www.fema.au.au.
02:13For more information, visit www.fema.au.au.
02:14For more information, visit www.fema.au.au.
02:15For more information, visit www.au.au.au.
02:16For more information, visit www.au.au.au.
02:17For more information, visit www.au.au.au.
02:18For more information, visit www.au.au.au.
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