Mankarre Project
“PROTECTING CULTURE AND HERITAGE”
The mission is to work together to protect, preserve and promote our traditional culture for the benefit of the whole region under the leadership of senior Bininj/Mungguy.
The objective of the Mankarre Project is to create a regional resource for Bininj Traditional Owners and Cultural Leaders to make available professional advice, advocacy and support to ensure protection of our Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property, cultural knowledge and cultural heritage from use without our consent, potential exploitation or misuse and to ensure our cultural and economic rights are appropriately realised in the fields of research, filmmaking, arts, collections, reproduction, use of names, songs, images, and in all aspects of our culture that belong to Bininj as recognised in the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People.
INTRODUCTION
The planning and delivery of all projects affecting Kakadu, western and central Arnhem Land region are required to be undertaken in partnership with the relevant Traditional Owner groups. Projects that use or rely on our Bininj cultural knowledge, language, stories and practices require both our consent and must acknowledge Bininj ownership in a culturally appropriate way. Having sound policies and protocols that protect the rights of Bininj/Mungguy to own and enjoy the benefits of our traditional culture and heritage is the best means of making this known to our potential partners. Taking a regional approach to the development of policies and protocols will allow us to be consistent across our region and prevent external parties dividing us while still ensuring local Traditional Owners make the decisions. Further, a regional approach will be cost effective as we can all access shared legal and business services while still respecting cultural autonomy. The regional resource will support more local economic opportunity through stronger community benefit arrangements. The Mankarre Project is our regional approach developed with senior leaders and traditional owners in Kakadu, central and western Arnhem Land involved in culture, law, land management, cultural practice, language maintenance, arts, cultural heritage management, cultural tourism and Indigenous Knowledge rights protection.
KARRINAHNAN MANKARRE ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Bininj Kunwok Regional Language & Culture Centre Ltd (BKRLCC) is supporting this group and has agreed to establish the Karrinahnan Mankarre Advisory Council (KMAC) as the collective forum to progress the Mankarre Project and work on developing the regional resource for the protection of Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP) rights and ownership. KMAC will oversee the development of policies and protocols for use in the fields of repatriation and safekeeping of cultural property, research into any aspect of our cultural heritage, cultural knowledge including ecological knowledge and biological resources, filmmaking, arts, collections, reproduction and copyright, use of names, songs, images, and all aspects of our culture that belong to Bininj as recognised in the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People. These policies and protocols will give notice to all potential partners of our ICIP rights whilst also ensuring we can enjoy the cultural economic opportunity to drive indigenous economic development. Benefit sharing agreements are one of the key areas of opportunity for local Bininj. The work will be guided by agreed priorities as listed below and related funding agreements. The initial components of the Mankarre Project are as outlined below.
PRIORITIES
(1) Develop a strong regional voice for respecting Mankarre
The BKRLCC will work to bring Bininj/Mungguy Traditional Owners and cultural leaders together as part of the Karrinahnan Mankarre Advisory Council to develop a strong regional voice for respecting Mankarre and to progress the Mankarre Project.
(2) Provide cultural advice for regional projects
The BKRLCC will offer assistance to regional projects by facilitating meetings of the Karrinahnan Mankarre Advisory Council to provide cultural advice, direction and input. At all stages, the appropriate local Traditional Owners will be identified and will be the decision-makers with the councilonly providing advice and support.
(3) Establish an ICIP Office as a regional resource managed by the BKRLCC
The BKRLCC will work with ICIP specialists to develop example and template policies, protocols and agreements as regional resources for the protection of ICIP rights and ownership under the guidance of the Karrinahnan Mankarre Advisory Council. These will then be adapted for local needs. The BKRLCC will establish a regional ICIP office that will help increase awareness and undertake advocacy for the protection of ICIP rights in the region by responding to demands and requests from external users and providing them with notice about respecting ICIP rights. It will offer free access to legal advice for Bininj/Mungguy and their organisations seeking support and referral to professional services where commercial advice is required.
(4) Support Keeping Places and repatriation works
The BKRLCC will work under the guidance of the Karrinahan Mankarre Advisory Council on the development of the existing database of cultural archives for Bininj/Mungguy, their organisations and communities, in accordance with cultural protocols. The BKRLCC will work with the Karrinahan Mankarre Advisory Council to explore ways to support new and existing local keeping places across the region and in communities and support repatriation projects in the region.
To find out more, contact mankarre@bininjkunwok.org.au