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Russell-Smith J, James G, Dhamarrandji AM, Gondarra T, Burton D, Sithole B, Campion OB, Hunter-Xenie H, Archer R, Sangha KK, Edwards AC. Empowering Indigenous natural hazards management in northern Australia. Ambio 2022; 51:2240-2260. [PMID: 35759155 PMCID: PMC9481826 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-022-01743-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Northern Australia is prone to recurring severe natural hazards, especially frequent cyclones, flooding, and extensive wildfires. The region is sparsely populated (≪ 0.5 persons km-2), with Indigenous (Aboriginal) residents comprising 14% of the population, and typically the majority in remote regions. Despite national policy committed to addressing emergency management (EM) in vulnerable Indigenous communities, implementation remains unfunded. We synthesise participatory intercultural research conducted over seven years exploring core challenges, opportunities and potential solutions towards developing effective EM partnerships. Similar EM engagement and empowerment issues face First Nations and local communities in many international settings. In search of solutions, we explore developing effective partnership arrangements between EM agencies and culturally diverse Indigenous communities. Observing that government already provides substantial investment in cultural and natural resource management programmes conducted by over 150 Indigenous Ranger Groups (IRGs) nationally, we demonstrate that expansion of IRG roles to incorporate EM community engagement and service delivery can provide multiple cost-effective community and business development benefits for many remote communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Russell-Smith
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research (DCBR), Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909 Australia
- Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (BNHCRC), East Melbourne, Victoria Australia
| | - Glenn James
- Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (BNHCRC), East Melbourne, Victoria Australia
- North Australian Indigenous Land & Sea Management Alliance Ltd (NAILSMA), Darwin, NT Australia
| | | | - Ted Gondarra
- Dalkarra and Djirrikay Authority (DDA), Galiwin’ku, NT Australia
| | - Danny Burton
- North Australian Indigenous Land & Sea Management Alliance Ltd (NAILSMA), Darwin, NT Australia
| | - Bevlyne Sithole
- Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (BNHCRC), East Melbourne, Victoria Australia
- Aboriginal Research Practitioners Network (ARPNet), Darwin, NT Australia
| | - Otto Bulmaniya Campion
- Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (BNHCRC), East Melbourne, Victoria Australia
- Aboriginal Research Practitioners Network (ARPNet), Darwin, NT Australia
| | - Hmalan Hunter-Xenie
- Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (BNHCRC), East Melbourne, Victoria Australia
- Aboriginal Research Practitioners Network (ARPNet), Darwin, NT Australia
| | - Ricky Archer
- North Australian Indigenous Land & Sea Management Alliance Ltd (NAILSMA), Darwin, NT Australia
| | - Kamaljit K. Sangha
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research (DCBR), Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909 Australia
- Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (BNHCRC), East Melbourne, Victoria Australia
| | - Andrew C. Edwards
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research (DCBR), Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909 Australia
- Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (BNHCRC), East Melbourne, Victoria Australia
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