‘OUR CULTURE IS THEIR SCIENCE’ - SHARING SEA LIFE KNOWLEDGE IN BROOME

Bart Pigram speaking at the Between the Tides event in Broome. Credit: Supplied.

This week, an event in Broome has been shining a focus on local marine life, bringing together people from across Western Australia to learn, explore and share knowledge.

‘Between the Tides: Discovering the Intertidal Marine Life of Broome’ is a week-long event showcasing the scientifically and culturally significant ocean life found amongst the huge local tides.

Yawuru man and Two-Way Science Initiative Principle Consultant Bart Pigram is one of the presenters at the event.

“These areas are extremely culturally significant and have sustained food sources and other resources for our mob for thousands and thousands of years,” he said.

Mr Pigram said that in his presentation he highlights that Aboriginal knowledge is both science and culture.

“Two-Way Science is about bringing in the Aboriginal cultural knowledge and connecting it to the scientific and western curriculum in schools so [students] learn two ways,” he said.

“It’s something I really wish I had when I was in school.

Yawuru words Nagulagun Roebuck Bay display art. Credit: Supplied

“We have Aboriginal knowledge which is basically thousands of years of science, and observations and experiments.

“Their science is our culture and our culture is their science.

“It’s just the way it’s been formalised in the western sense that it gets to be called science.

“But we’ve been doing it for thousands and thousands of years, but it’s been classified as culture because it is our culture.”

The event began on Tuesday and will run until tomorrow.

Activities include marine walks, reef walks,shows and live music.