Ivy Solomon (Bubbles) - Aboriginal Water Officer video transcript

[Speaker: Ivy Solomon (Bubbles)]

The connection of our mob and it is, it's really strong. And that's from our parents, our grandparents.

[On screen: Location marker noting Woods Point]

I never looked at the river before the way I do now. You know, there's reasons why we've got to look after the water and the only way to learn is you have to go out to the land, the country, the water. You can't learn this stuff from books.

If it wasn't for the AWO role, probably wouldn't be doing it as much as I am.

[On screen text: Ivy Solomon (Bubbles) (Mgarigo Monero), Nindi-Ngujarn Mgarigo Monero Aboriginal Corporation, Aboriginal Water Officer]

I get to come home, to country, I get to work with my mob, I get to learn stuff that I didn't learn before.

[On screen: Location marker noting Gipsy Point]

If I wasn't doing this role, I wouldn't be learning as much as I am or asking the questions I think that I need to ask for myself. It's just going out with Tim and Sam, learning from them. I think it makes a difference when you work with the people that are just as passionate as you.

[On screen text: Sam Pender (Ngarigo Monero), Nindi-Ngujarn Mgarigo Monero Aboriginal Corporation]

[Speaker: Sam Pender]

One of the most satisfying processes I've been involved in for a while, doing Aboriginal water assessments and getting the chance to have our say and put our own cultural lens over the process.

[On screen text: Tim Paton (Ngarigo Monero), Nindi-Ngujarn Mgarigo Monero Aboriginal Corporation]

[Speaker: Tim Paton]

Protecting waterways is like, it's just a natural instinct.

[On screen: Location marker noting Genoa River]

From the Snowy to this Genoa River out to Lake Barracuda is what's known as the Learning Walk. And that connects us all the way through this area.

[On screen: Location marker noting Orbost]

[Speaker: Ivy Solomon (Bubbles)]

I remember going up to with my dad and up to Jindabyne when we had a camp up there. And that's how I think where I got that fire in my belly to get out here and do this. And it's only just now that I'm doing it.

[Speaker: Sam Pender]

I guess the main thing we want to do is have a presence continuously in these areas to reinforce that connection to country that we already have.

[On screen: Location marker noting Genoa Falls]

We're going to build our capacity slowly and we want to build more partnerships and be engaged in the process a lot more.

[Speaker: Tim Paton]

Water for mob is pretty crucial to traversing country.

[On screen: Location marker noting Mallacoota]

What makes up Mallacoota is it's the end of country, the narrows, where it goes to the mixing of, of fresh and salt water.

It's in our bones really to to be able to get out on the water, use it in a way that is sustainable and culturally, culturally appropriate.

[Speaker: Ivy Solomon (Bubbles)]

You know, there's platypus in this river. I don't want to fish in this river. I don't want to catch up. I don't know what I'd do if I'd done caught a platypus.

[On screen: Location marker noting Bemm River]

You know, there's reasons why we've got to look after the water. There's plants around here that we can eat as well. That's what I want to learn. There's always something more to learn out here.

It doesn't matter how old you get. With my kids and my nieces and nephews. This is what I want them to have. And every time I come up here to Sam and Tim, I bring one of my nephews or nieces up with me. I just want the river to be healthy like it used to be.

It's exciting getting back to it and learning and then to encourage the next generation to to carry on what we're doing now for the next generations.

[On screen text: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Victoria and their ongoing connection to the land and water.]

[On screen: Nindi-Ngujarn Mgarigo Monero Aboriginal Corporation logo on the left and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action logo on the right]