Mirritya Ebsworth
Candidature
PhD Candidate
Thesis Title
An Eco-cultural Study of Culturally Significant Species on Wangkumarra Country
Research Project
This PhD project is to honour my Ancestors and preserve knowledge for future generations of Wangkumarra people. It is underpinned by the domains of Country, Community, Culture, Law and Language and aims to understand the cultural and environmental importance of culturally important species.
Wangkumarra Country is located on the Cooper Basin, predominantly in SW Qld. It is an arid region of boom-bust cycles with extreme climate; monsoon rains travel through northern rivers to feed the Cooper Creek, sporadically causing shallow flood waters to spread through anabranches creating ‘Channel Country’ which is characterised by dunes, floodplains, ephemeral salt lakes and stony gibber plains.
The species of interest is Acacia cyperophylla (Red mulga). We call it ‘minnarityi’. It is a slow-growing leguminous hardwood found along narrow creek lines. It has a distinct curly red bark and flowers only after significant rain events. There is limited knowledge and understanding of its distribution and demography, with no previous studies on the impacts on populations from land disturbance.
Minnarityi is a culturally significant species for Wangkumarra people. It was used for tools, weapons, food, medicine, hunting and ceremony.
Two-way Science bridges Traditional Knowledge and contemporary science to create a holistic approach that supports sustainable land management and ecological research. Building strong partnerships between Indigenous communities, scientists and stakeholders ensures we preserve cultural heritage while promoting environmental sustainability. Developing strategies using two-way science for species conservation, water management, and climate resilience strengthens relationships, deepens understanding and enables Aboriginal people to connect with Country, practice culture and revitalise their language.
Research questions
- How do transformative land uses, such as mining and pastoral leases, impact the demographic structure of minnarityi populations on Wangkumarra Country?
- What environmental and ecological correlates distinguish archetypal minnarityi populations in undisturbed areas from those in human-disturbed areas?
- What key Traditional Knowledge of minnarityi and its ecology do Wangkumarra Elders value, and how do they prefer this knowledge to be passed on to future generations?
Supervisors
A/Professor Rachael Gallagher, Professor Carolyn Jones (MARCS), and D/Professor Belinda Medlyn
