Historical forum results in First Nations Dingo Declaration
Over the 15 and 16 September First Nations people from at least 20 different Nations gathered in Cairns for the first of its kind National Inaugural First Nations Dingo Forum. The forum was an opportunity for First Nations people to discuss the cultural and ecological significance of the Dingo, and the way they are currently being managed across mainland Australia. The event was hosted by Girringun Aboriginal Corporation.
Over the two-day forum more than 100 attendees contributed to the creation of the ‘National First Nations Dingo Declaration’. The Declaration outlines the cultural significance of the Dingo to First Nations people, and a call for their deep involvement in decision-making around Dingo management on Country.
Currently, lethal Dingo management is widespread across Australia. On public and private lands, including in national parks, they are targeted with 1080 poison baits, trapping and shooting, as well as bounty programs that incentivise their hunting.
First Nations people formed a deep relationship with Dingoes over thousands of years as companions, hunting partners and family members. However, colonisation has impacted this relationship. The National First Nations Dingo Declaration is a first step towards healing this fractured relationship and calls for a new approach.
A growing body of research has highlighted the ecological benefits of Dingoes in the Australian environment, regulating the population of kangaroos and controlling and eradicating feral goats and pigs, as well as introduced predators like cats and foxes. Further, research by graziers has highlighted that better business returns can come from maintaining Dingo populations, demonstrating that killing does not need to be the default approach.
Conference organiser Whitney Rassip from Girringun Aboriginal Corporation said:
“Over 100 people from all mainland states attended this ground-breaking conference and worked together to produce the National First Nations Dingo Declaration, calling for the involvement of First Nations peoples in making decisions around Dingo management.”
“We want and need a new approach to protecting and managing Dingoes nationally. Indigenous People have deep cultural links to Dingoes, and day to day involvement in modern land management. However, we have been left out of conversations around the management of Dingoes. We are deeply concerned about the ongoing indiscriminate killing of Dingoes that occurs in many regions. In too many places the standard management is still to kill and eradicate, under the pretence that so-called ‘Wild Dogs’ are being targeted.”
“We appreciate that some farmers and graziers, especially sheep and goat producers, will be concerned about protection of their stock from Dingoes. We would like to work with landholders to support the non-lethal solutions available to protect small livestock.”
“Our Declaration, on a new approach to engaging with Dingoes, provides a long-needed First Nations perspective. We will work together to ensure it acts as a springboard for new approaches to Dingo management on a local level.”
“From here on a new Indigenous network will support Indigenous people working together for changes in Dingo management across many of our nations”.
Defend the Wild honoured to be involved in this history making event
Defend the Wild is honoured to have had the opportunity to be involved in this monumental event. In July 2023 we hosted the ‘Defend the Dingo’ fundraiser to raise funds towards the forum. Following the success of this event, Defend the Wild was asked to project manage the forum, which we gleefully accepted. Additionally, our Founding Director Alix Livingstone was invited to present on trapping and shooting, bounty programs and the culture of dingoes.
