Wadandi Heritage, Archaeology, Surf and Landcare Camp
2020
A collaboration to facilitate sharing of cultural knowledge and outdoor skills - and contribute to stronger community health and well-being through culture-specific programs.
Undalup Association, Wadandi Cultural Leaders, Applied Archaeology International, and (living legend) Josh Palmateer’s Surf Academy are pleased to announce an camp and internship opportunity based in Wadandi Boodja (Margaret River), southwestern Australia. The 2020 summer program will integrate with workshops and cultural camps with a variety of partners. At the same time, you will participate in archaeological and environmental studies on public and private land, heritage preservation projects, and be part of an international cultural exchange. You will also get hands-on lessons in surfing and kayaking with experts in water knowledge and safety, appreciating the full magic of this cultural landscape.
Component 1: Cultural Awareness and Understanding
Focused on significant heritage sites within the Cape to Cape region of southwestern Australia, this component involves a hands-on cultural workshop and orientation On Country with Wadandi Elders and Cultural Coordinators and the Undalup Association. The purpose is to facilitate sharing of cultural knowledge and skills as a group and contribute to stronger community health and well-being through culture-specific programs. This will involve:
•hands-on activities related to cultural protocols and connections
•understanding aspects of Wadandi heritage and culture
•cultural plant survey
•the Wadandi seasons
•traditional subsistence and tool-making workshops
•promote traditional ways of maintaining cultural knowledge.
Component 2: Heritage Management
Component 2 involves a heritage survey of specific cultural places within the Cape to Cape region. Our fieldwork will include expeditions to different parts of Wadandi Boodja, and partake in on-ground heritage preservation projects. The fieldwork will involve documenting traditional place names; learning the associated stories, mapping the surrounding land forms, and surveying the cultural values and places related to each location.
The work will include practical training in Certificate II nationally-accredited units, including:
The team will participate in an archaeological survey and mapping session with the Wadandi community representatives, and their partners at Applied Archaeology International.
These workshops will teach:
•field survey methods
•how to use a compass and GPS
•identifying cultural artifacts and features
•mapping, and recording a heritage site
The youth will also learn to identify threats and impacts to heritage sites and methods of protection and management.
The heritage management program is culturally-guided, project-focused, and action driven. As a participant, you will work directly with Elders, heritage specialists, lawyers and environmental scientists.
Component 3: Landcare and Outdoor Education
Many of the cultural sites in the Cape to Cape region require on-ground restoration and management, as a result of impacts from human and natural processes. The students will participate in on-ground actions to protect specific cultural sites, including:
•carrying out erosion control methods of matting and brushing
•weed control
•localised revegetation
This work will be supported by our partners at Geographe Community Landcare Nursey. This will unfold as an on-ground land care project, under cultural leadership, and support leadership development in young people. This session will also include a workshop on methods of outdoor safety and survival, delivered by the team’s specialists logistics and safety coordinator (Dark Emu Expeditions). This includes wilderness first aid, bandages, ropes, slings, dealing with snake bites, finding water, among other practical bush survival methods.
Component 4: Surf and Kayak
The final session will include two surf lessons and a kayaking session for the entire team, to reward their efforts, while building confidence, providing outdoor skills, and developing bonding and youth leadership skills. This will be delivered by the Josh Palmateer Surf Academy.
This session includes all coaching, equipment and instruction. The first part of the lesson is spent on the beach explaining safety issues and the basics of surfing, before the coach takes the class into the water. The coach then helps the students to catch a wave by steadying the surfboard and pushing the board along with the wave at the correct time until the students learn to do this by themselves.
All JPSA Learn to Surf Courses include:
•Level 1 Surf Certificate
•Surf Safety & Awareness
•Beach Safety
•Ocean Knowledge
•Surf Etiquette
Additionally, lessons in the use of drone survey and photography will also be provided during this component by Above Imagery. This component relates to the significant cultural connections the Wadandi People have to the sea, and their sea spirit.
Logistics, Accommodations and Meals
The team will be housed at Surf Point Resort, offering dorm-style accommodation and a full industrial kitchen. The program supplies all meals.
Nightly cultural and heritage workshops and educational videos will be an additional feature. The program will deliver a custom-designed, short video of the entire camp for the school to use for presentations and to show your families and mates.
What you will learn:
This program will equip you with the skills and knowledge related to college studies and experience working as a professional heritage and environmental officer. The program is open to students, groups, those interested in their own professional development, or anyone interested in collaborative heritage and science.
The program takes you step-by-step through a range of skills and experiences while participating in meaningful projects, focused on:
Learning, understanding and following cultural protocols
Language, identity and well-being
Surfing, kayaking, paddle-boarding
Outdoor safety and survival skills
Anthropological surveys and cultural mapping
Archaeological surveys, mapping and field skills
Community and applied archaeology
Methods of heritage site survey and evaluation
Place name mapping
Cultural plant surveys and traditional gathering
Cultural science and ecology
Weed control, erosion control and water testing
Heritage site preservation and environmental management
Integrating cultural knowledge, archaeology and natural resource management
You will also participate in on-ground heritage protection and management projects while having fun and adventures as part of an integrated team.
Study Topics
For those interested in a study topic as an intern or graduate, this intensive program can provide placements to assist with the ongoing applied research to develop an interactive cultural map, under the direction of cultural leaders. The information will be collected via oral histories, interviews, field survey, archaeological investigations and archival research, as part of an integrated team effort. This work will involve targeted field surveys and site recording focused on traditional place names. The program can be custom-designed to your specific studies or interests.
There will also be practical workshops in heritage legislation, cultural protocols and methods of evaluation. The work will involve archaeological survey, testing and mapping, and provide you with a collection of skills required of a field archaeologist, anthropologist and environmental scientist.
From here, the team will workshop how cultural mapping is the basis for developing an integrated heritage management plan. We will workshop current threats and methods for ongoing community-based protection and management at the site and landscape level. We will also participate in workshops to learn about ways of cultural monitoring and management, and develop cross-cultural understandings.
Who is eligible?
The program is open to high school students, college students, and professionals. The program is useful for those studying archaeology, linguistics, anthropology, environmental science, or environmental law - or for those that would like to learn about and experience aspects of these fields. Applied Archaeology is available to assist in contacting your internship or field school sponsor to organize and plan for the program. We can also assist to arrange TAFE or college credit for your participation.
All accommodations and meals provided as part of the group program. We can custom-design programs for groups, schools or organisations.
Chopper
Special mention to the team’s local surf and kayak dog, Chopper….
A local celebrity and proud ‘owner’ of Josh and Sarah, Chops ensures that all team members are welcomed, protected, and ready for a run or swim at any time.
Chopper has an (honorary) Diploma in Dog Therapy and Wellbeing, and with over 11 months practical experience in working with communities….
More Information
For more information or a registration form, please contact:
David Guilfoyle – contact form or email: dg@appliedarchaeologyinternational.com
On behalf of the Undalup Association and Josh Palmateer Surf Academy
