Summary

Centrefarm Aboriginal Horticulture Limited (Centrefarm) lead this Co-Mapping on Country project involved a series of workshops from 2019-2022 with Traditional Owners of the Warrabri, Wubalawun and Mangarrayi Aboriginal Land Trusts ( in the Northern Territory) to develop two large multi-purpose canvas maps of the regions. The research aimed to co-create maps that could be used as a platform to facilitate communication, discussion, and decision-making, while supporting intergenerational knowledge transfer, and educate non-Aboriginal people about the Country they are on.

Although there were several Covid-19 related delays, the project successfully achieved its key goals and developed Co-Mapping methodologies that may be used by others wishing to undertake similar work. The use of an embedded Developmental Evaluator throughout the project allowed for key learnings to be evaluated and implemented in real time throughout the process.

In addition to the original goal of developing a Co-Mapping manual and training guide, accompanied by a workbook and ‘toolkit’, a comprehensive Co-Mapping Model  has been created providing a proven process for others wishing to undertake Co-Mapping. This process applies to any socio-economic development activity non-Aboriginal people undertake with Aboriginal people and demonstrates how to collaborate in intercultural contexts.

The project draws on a range of national and international approaches to Co-Mapping. In the national context, given the challenges facing Aboriginal peoples, and the failure so far of governments to address them over past decades, the imperative to work with, or collaborate on an equal footing, is the only way forward—not just for governments, but any organisation or group wanting to address disadvantage and capitalise on the strengths of people and organisations that already exist. If there is a real desire to support Aboriginal people to develop their lands in Northern Australia, it is critical that Co-mapping methodology is employed, and that two-way governance and Free Prior and Informed Consent are central to this process.

Centrefarm staff and associates have benefited from managing and delivering Co-Mapping in ways that will reverberate positively in Alekarenge and Mataranka as our efforts to improve the socio-economic circumstances of Aboriginal people continue. This project has given Co-Mapping, co-design and two-way governance a legitimacy that enables Centrefarm to consolidate and place itself on a solid footing.