Shandell Cummings and Dr Alison Lullfitz

"There’s been that big shift where people are starting to appreciate cultural knowledge a lot more than what it would have been appreciated in the past.” - Shandell Cummings

Shandell Cummings is a Merningar woman and Indigenous consultant. Dr Alison Lullfitz is a cross-cultural researcher and conservation biologist at the University of Western Australia.

Together they explore and map the many linkages between Indigenous and western ecological knowledge, working closely with Shandell’s family in Noongar Boodja of south coast Western Australia. This work brings together different frameworks of thinking with the shared goal of improving biodiversity conservation and social wellbeing.

Shandell and Alison were awarded the 2021 Bush Heritage Australia Right Way Science Prize and recently presented at the inaugural TedX Kinjarling program. ‘Right-way’ science recognises the sovereignty, connection and knowledge of Traditional Owners across the country. Right-way science is also referred to as ‘cross-cultural’ science and ‘two-way’ science. It is an exchange of knowledge and a chance to learn based on mutual respect, responsibility and connectedness. It is a collaborative approach based on recognition of the value that each group brings to a project and when all groups have a shared interest in the outcomes. Learn more about right way science.

The Ecological Society of Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Help the ESA support ecology in Australia by donating (www.ecolsoc.org.au/get-involved/donate/donation-form) or by becoming a member (www.ecolsoc.org.au/get-involved/become-a-member).

The music in this podcast is ‘Glow’ by Scott Buckley - www.scottbuckley.com.au.

Episode image credit: Alison Lullfitz.