Traditional owners hope the declaration of a new national park in WA's Kimberley region will create jobs and protect the river system from future development.
The new Warlibirri National Park, named after the Gooniyandi word for river, spans 16,000 hectares and takes in areas of the Margaret River east of Fitzroy Crossing.
The river is home to important areas for the language group and is considered a living ancestral being among Gooniyandi people.
The totems of many families are connected to freshwater places as well as plants and animals found along the river.
'I feel happy'
Gooniyandi elder Claude Carter said the new national park was a significant moment for his people.
"I feel happy, because the river, it's like life to us," he said.
"We always say water brings life back to the people, to the animals and the land."
Claude Carter says the new national park is a significant opportunity for his people.(ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne)
The area's new national park status means the rivers and waterholes are now protected, including many special cultural sites.
Mr Carter said national park status was sought to "get away from damming and mining".
"We live on top of the river and there's other people down the river, different tribes, this river goes into Fitzroy River, and from the Fitzroy it comes out to Derby," he said.
He said a mine or a dam would have impacts beyond his community.
"So it wasn't just about us mob, it was about other people too."
Traditional owners gather at Garnayirri to mark the declaration of the national park.(ABC Kimberley: Jessica Hayes)
New opportunities
The Gooniyandi Aboriginal Corporation will manage the national park with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
"We are working together as one now, there's black and white, and that's another good thing I see, looking after country together," Mr Carter said.
He hopes it will create new opportunities for young people as the region grapples with escalating juvenile crime and social dysfunction.
"Right through the Kimberley we've got no jobs in our community," he said.
"I see good things for them kids again; they've got opportunities to come out here and look after country, we've got to try and find a road for them."
Russell Chestnut says getting more young people on country is important.(ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne)
Protecting country
Gooniyandi ranger coordinator and traditional owner Russell "Junior" Chestnut said he was excited at the prospect of expanding the program.
"Gooniyandi country to us is our own nation to our people … when it comes to looking after country we have a lot to cover, so the more rangers, the better we can look after our country," he said.
"I'm looking forward to where this is going to go; we're going to get better access to country … now with the national park there'll be more resources.
"It will protect the areas more, like a lot of the boundary of the national park will be fenced off."
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti (left), Claude Carter and Environment Minister Reece Whitby at the signing ceremony.(ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne)
Just the beginning
Environment Minister Reece Whitby said Warlibirri was the first step in the establishment of more national parks in the Fitzroy Valley.
He said parks would start at Geikie Gorge National Park, head east along the Margaret River and wind north along the Fitzroy River.
"It is the first of a series so it will adjoin national parks across the Fitzroy Valley," he said.
"It means we can safeguard these areas and protect these areas for future generations."
He said he expected to make more announcements on new national parks in the coming year.
Just the beginning
Environment Minister Reece Whitby said Warlibirri was the first step in the establishment of more national parks in the Fitzroy Valley.
He said parks would start at Geikie Gorge National Park, head east along the Margaret River and wind north along the Fitzroy River.
"It is the first of a series so it will adjoin national parks across the Fitzroy Valley," he said.
"It means we can safeguard these areas and protect these areas for future generations."
He said he expected to make more announcements on new national parks in the coming year.
Phil Hams hopes pastoralists will have access to surface water.(ABC Kimberley: Jessica Hayes)
"It will never be a massive amount of development, it will be minimal, just to enhance the existing cattle industry," he said.
"The cattle industry is held back by the fact that we haven't got that feed on hand in those months when we need it."
Mr Hams said negotiations with traditional owners and the state government were ongoing.
"We have to work our way through it and come up with a situation where it's a win-win and get an economy, jobs and opportunities for people," he said.
"I don't believe common sense will put us in a position where opportunities — reasonable, well thought out opportunities — are denied because we've got a national park going through."
Conservation 'vindication'
Conservation group Environs Kimberley was formed 25 years ago to fight plans for the damming of the Margaret, Leopold, and Martuwarra Fitzroy Rivers.
Co-founder Pat Lowe congratulated the Gooniyandi people on the formation of the new national park.
"The decision is a vindication of the stand of traditional owners took all those decades ago," she said.
y Jessica Hayes and Andrew Seabourne
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