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Indigenous tour push

By Suellen Hinde

28 March 2004 - Darwin's rich archeological heritage is being documented as part of a nation-wide conservation and tourism project to develop Indigenous tourism in Australian cities.

Larrakias flag

Learning traditional pandanus weaving techniques

Charles Darwin University researcher and archeologist Dr Patricia Bourke has been undertaking the project with Larrakia Nation's Lorraine Williams, funded by the Australian Research Council, Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation, Heritage Conservation and the NT Tourist commission.

Dr Bourke said the sites were not being preserved - four-wheel drive tracks were found around the 7m midden - and the project hoped to provide funds from tourism to protect the sites.

The three-year project, concluding in 2005, will develop a cultural heritage management plan for the sites - several of which are in Charles Darwin National Park.

``The aim is to show how these sites could be developed to fit into tourism with the Larrakia people having some control of the program,'' Dr Bourke said.

She said research had revealed Indigenous tourism in Australian cities was not at a sufficient level.

``It showed tourism demand for Indigenous products near cities and main cities was not being met,'' Dr Bourke said.

``In Darwin, we have a little bit of Larrakia history at Lyons Cottage but that's it. People who come to Darwin and don't want to do a big trip out to Kakadu don't see and experience Aboriginal culture and don't get to meet Aboriginal people.

``What we are doing here is being done in other cities.''

Dr Bourke said they were presently creating a matrix of the sites with plans for Larrakia Nation to set up a group of guides to operate an informative interpretive tour of the locations.

She said the project would work in with Larrakia Nation's plans for an Aboriginal cultural centre near Darwin High School.

Source: Northern Territory News

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