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The project was initiated in 2001 by Kuku Thaypan Elders who wanted their knowledge, beliefs and practices recorded and preserved for present and future use by their families and youth. This was seen as a matter of urgency. The initial project was funded through a Natural Heritage Trust submission that gave focus to the recording of Kuku Thaypan plant knowledge, or ethnobotany. The Elders requested Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation (BCYDC) to assist with the recording and storage of their traditional knowledge.
At the same time, Kuku Thaypan people recently won back some western legal rights to their country and wished to achieve some form of economic independence. The commercial utilisation of native plant species from their country has been identified as one sustainable way of this happening. This project also sought to investigate the appropriateness of this activity.
The Kuku Thaypan beginnings allowed Balkanu to recgonise a number of other priorities for other Traditional owner groups and families.
An urgent priority currently is to support the work of two young Kuku Yalanji women working to preserve cultural knowledge about the Kuku Yalanji homelands. This is taking a three-pronged approach that encompasses their mentorship by the project manager, their engagement in the project's methodology and undertaking skill development in digital technology. The project will also be of great benefit to the women who are developing the project including increasing their cultural identity, confidence and personal strengths.
The project also provides a sound cultural and economic base for Traditional Owners priority to live on and look after country. Because the project has been developed by Elders, by and for Indigenous people, the knowledge shared in this project and its storage in the database is accepted more readily by Traditional Owner groups than those procedures developed by government departments or other agencies. It creates a model towards co-operative land management outcomes that are based on dual knowledge systems (ie. Aboriginal and government).
The priority, in this current situation, is to fulfill the expressed wishes of the Senior Elders and continue to record as much of traditional knowledge as possible before it is lost forever. The Kuku Thaypan knowledge database project has pioneered the documentation of traditional knowledge in Cape York incorporating both Senior Elders and multi-media technology.
Kuku Thaypan Knowledge Base
The project database was developed to encompass a number of identified core traditional knowledge fields. These fields are based on the knowledge shared by the Elders.
Each knowledge area is a specific field with its own categories that show the cultural links to country. Each field of knowledge has its own sub-fields (eg. Plants - spiritual uses, plant laws, relationships, craft uses, food uses, medical uses). In this way, the strength of this database is that it acknowledges the specifics whilst showing, through the use of appropriate knowledge and its application, how to also look after the whole system.
The database protects the intellectual property and cultural heritage of the Kuku Thaypan in the use of two levels of Kuku Thaypan knowledge. These levels are:
1. Sensitive information for viewing and use of the Traditional Owner groups/clans/families;
2. Non-sensitive knowledge that is general information and suitable for viewing by outsiders (tourists, departmental staff).
Methodology
Processes of knowledge acquisition and transfer:
Methodology, the system of methods and choices made during the project that are respectful of Aboriginal cultural processes, lores and ways for teaching and learning, encompass the cultural processes of the project and is necessary for its successful implementation. Therefore the project methodology seeks to respect and retain integrity of the transfer of traditional knowledge from Elders to youth in practices such as land management.
Phases of recording Kuku Thaypan knowledge:
The database is the 'exact' knowledge of the Elders processes so that taping their physical movements is essential - it is living knowledge and has the capacity to grow as knowledge is gathered (or returned) to the Traditional Owners or clan group.
This project has developed three core processes of knowledge acquisition and transfer that are culturally respectful and relevant. This transcends ethical behaviour as it is most commonly known and emphasises Aboriginal cultural lores and protocols. The three processes are described as: recording, transcribing and translating.
Recording
Digital technology is used to record the Elders and clan group members on country, actively participating, mentoring and instructing. However, the role of the person recording is viewed as crucial to the activity and is more than someone holding the camera. The style of the interaction and the role of the 'taper' is part of the mentorship unique to this project.
Transcribing
The multi-media technology provides a layout for the database so that traditional ways of teaching mimic the Elders knowledge in a way that is natural. Likewise, as knowledge recorded is transferred to the database it is respectfully transcribed to retain the integrity of the Elders.
Translating
The Elders often speak their language and it is an aim of the project to record and preserve this in the database. Therefore to ensure the translation is done properly and respectfully an understanding of the language, its use and the communication styles of the Elders is paramount. Again, learning this process of translating is unique to the mentorship of the project.
Lead Organisation/Agency
Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation - Read Latest Annual Report
Current Partners
None but plenty of people are interested in the project.
Other Partners Needed?Yes
Type of Support Needed
Wages, capital equipment like computers and editing machines, accredited training, vehicles, legal advice, technical advice like database design
Type of Mentoring Needed
Capital raising
E-Capacity
Enterprise Development
Finance
Legal
Marketing
Media
Organisational learning
Policy and regulatory environment
Amount of Investment Needed
AUD $100K - $250K
Type of Investment Needed
Project Funding for 5 Years
Subject(s)
Arts
Cattle Industry
Cultural Development
Education
Employment and training
Enterprise Development
Film and Television
Health
Land Management
Media
Music
Social Business
Tourism
Region(s)
Queensland - Cape York
Most Recently Presented At
Yorta Yorta Trading Floor, 19 November 2004
First Presented At
Yorta Yorta Trading Floor, 19 November 2004
For further information
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