Published: 1 Oct 2024

This Out on Country edition is up in the Daintree, with Allira Alvoen, a proud Wakaman and Kuku Yalanji Traditional Owner. As the Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) Manager at Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation, Allira's work is all about supporting Country, culture and community.

My name is Allira Alvoen and I am a Wakaman and Kuku Yalanji woman.

I’ve worked for Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation for 7 years and have covered various roles over the years from the National Parks transfer project to Ranger programs and have been the Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) Manager for 3 years. 

Key aspects of my role are to facilitate clan-based governance and support Traditional Owners to drive community-initiated activities which aim to maintain and support cultural resilience. Within clan-based governance, my role is to support Elders to implement protocols into mainstream land management as much as possible, and make decisions for their Country, culture and community. 

The decision-making process plays a significant role for our organisation and enables us to consult, receive feedback and guidance from our Elders, ensure decisions are being made properly, and that cultural protocols are implemented within our work practices.

The best part of my job is when I can get out of the office and can spend time on Country. Nothing beats getting away from reality and from the computer screen. 

At times it can be difficult to balance the office work and field work. I’m good at planning and organising activities and I work hard to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible. I want to ensure Elders are taken care of and that everything they need has been packed and that there is good mayi (food) being served on the day!

In high school I was an average student, but when it came to school projects based on Indigenous agendas, I’d do well, I’d become an A student. I’ve always had a passion to work with my people and learn my culture, but it wasn't until I started working with Jabalbina as a young person that I found where I was meant to be. 

Caring for Country is Everyone's Business

Before colonisation, all our people were living on Country, taking care of Country and sharing with Country.

For Yalanji People, that connection and relationship has been maintained and our Elders are noticing changes and that our seasonal indicators are not aligning, due to the increasing risks of invasive species. Country isn't the way it should be, things aren't lining up. There's an overgrowth of pests, pigs and weeds. Country hasn't been managed the way it should be - fire hasn't gone through it for a long time. 

We have land dedicated to protection under the Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) program. We have two IPAs which have been dedicated, and one which is being developed. 

Our key values are centred around protecting Country, protecting and maintaining culture and our cultural sites, and getting Bama (people) back on bubu (country). We believe that if you get people back on Country, begin that healing journey, then Country will heal itself as well. 

Some of the significant animals on our IPA are the cassowary and the Bennet’s Tree Kangaroo, spotted-tailed quoll and much more. Depending what part of Country you go to, the tropical rainforest, eucalypt or mangrove forest, there is much to see. Through the work we do keeping Country healthy with pest management, fire management and cultural heritage management, we try to maintain and increase numbers of our threatened species naturally through that work. 

Caring for Country is everyone's business. Elders talk a lot about walking together on this journey to heal country and to look after it. We all want the same thing for Country, First Nations peoples just have a different approach to carrying out this work. 

The Cyclone – at the Forefront

Since Cyclone Jasper our efforts have been focused on recovering and getting community back to the way it was before, and making sure that our people’s social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing is good. During the cyclone, community members and our rangers were checking in on people, keeping people sheltered, feeding people and ensuring everyone was safe. There were no services on the ground. Rangers and Traditional Owners were at the forefront assisting the entire time. 

It was community helping community. Making sure Elders were safe, helping if they needed assistance, ensuring people had clean water. Whilst everyone was relocated to other towns such as Cooktown, Cairns, Mareeba and Mossman, our rangers and other staff would do visits and just see how everyone was coping. We supported Elders by taking them to appointments, and ensuring they had access to services. 

Traditional Owners were working within Wujal Wujal and surrounding communities cleaning up debris, dumping rubbish and cleaning out houses and assisting on the roads clearing paths and moving logs. Once this job was done, they then moved onto transporting people back into their homes, making sure they had everything they needed including food, appliances, bedding etc.

This was a massive job and a massive change to the work they usually do, but they knew it was what was needed and everyone got straight into it.

More Women Leaders

As women, I believe we bring a different perspective to the table. We approach things differently and this should be embraced. There's a lot of pressure on us as women - from our families, our children, partners and even our communities. We play a significant important role within our communities and I see that all the time. Our Kamba-kamba (Elders women) are strong and know what our communities need. I want to see more opportunities for our jalbu-jalbu (women). I want to see more women excelling and moving into roles of leadership and management. 

The unique thing about Jabalbina, is that there are heaps of opportunities. You have the opportunity to try different roles, work on different projects and within different teams. We have a supportive management team which are open to developing people’s skills and experience.

My advice to young women would be if you're interested and looking for opportunities, then have that yarn with your rangers or corporation. You’ll never know, if you don’t have a go.

-Allira Alvoen.