cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/6277945
A trio of First Nations researchers is blending traditional knowledge and science to map whale migration and advocate for improved conservation.
On the NSW Central Coast’s craggy headlands, you hear the gasp before you spot the splash. Whether it’s a spout of air, a whip of a tail or a magnificent full-body breach, whale migration season stirs a ripple of excitement among the binocular-braced onlookers at Norah Head.
Dr Chels Marshall is standing among them on a makeshift stage, addressing the crowd, which has gathered to celebrate the importance of whales in Indigenous culture.
Marshall, a Gumbaynggirr woman and ecologist, recounts a Dreaming story traditional to her Country on NSW’s Mid North Coast. It’s about two koala brothers who become stranded when the sea rises around them. Luckily, a humpback whale comes to their rescue and helps them return safely to land.
“It’s that whale that comes along every year, bringing joyfulness, peace and people together, like today,” she explains.
Whales hold sacred status in many Indigenous communities, in stories, songlines and rock art. But that cultural significance does not guarantee legal protection – especially as their migration pathways come under threat.