Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,080
VOICEOVER: We acknowledge the many
First Nations across the country
2
00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:06,320
and their elders
and knowledge-holders,
3
00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:08,720
who have generously
shared their stories
4
00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,720
and welcomed us onto their country
for this series
5
00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:15,240
and we would like to warn Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander viewers
6
00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:17,800
that the following program
may contain
7
00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:20,360
images and voices
of deceased persons.
8
00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:41,080
ROB COLLINS: No other
survival tool on the planet
9
00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:44,120
begins to compare
with the human mind.
10
00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:49,080
With our intelligence, we devise
strategies for the future.
11
00:00:50,160 --> 00:00:53,240
We manipulate the environment
to suit our needs.
12
00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,840
But humans can also destroy
the very environment
13
00:00:57,840 --> 00:00:59,760
we rely on for our survival.
14
00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:03,320
In our search for solutions,
15
00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:05,680
we must explore all options.
16
00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,080
The knowledge systems created
by the first inventors
17
00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,400
have sustained my ancestors,
18
00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,640
the world's oldest living cultures,
19
00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:27,640
for at least 65,000 years.
20
00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,440
But the world we live in today
couldn't be any more different.
21
00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,000
The survival challenges we face...
22
00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,120
..are bigger than ever.
23
00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:41,600
In this episode...
24
00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,160
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
25
00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:44,840
..an ancient innovation...
26
00:01:45,960 --> 00:01:49,120
You're looking, probably...
Yeah, we've got the fire!
27
00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,240
..tackling one of the modern world's
greatest problems.
28
00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:55,960
Good fire management essentially
halves the emissions from fire.
29
00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:57,520
Half?
30
00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:00,160
Traditional knowledge
of Australian plants...
31
00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:02,960
How can you tell what you can't eat?
32
00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:04,760
There's a system.
33
00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:06,880
..helping to create new medicine.
34
00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:10,560
We have got a novel molecule
no-one has discovered before.
35
00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:13,480
And was the boomerang...
36
00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:16,720
..the world's first flying machine?
37
00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:21,840
There's so much belief went into
this, by my people back home.
38
00:02:22,920 --> 00:02:25,760
So for humanity to survive
the next hundred...
39
00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,320
..let alone thousands of years
into the future,
40
00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:31,280
we're gonna need Indigenous knowledge
41
00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,440
and Western science working together.
42
00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,200
There's your one for throwing.
43
00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:09,960
There's yours for throwing,
there's yours for throwing.
44
00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:11,600
There's yours.
45
00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:16,200
Yeah, that's good.
46
00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:20,760
It's a moment repeated countless
times over many thousands of years.
47
00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:23,880
So, your...your shot now.
48
00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:25,360
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
49
00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,360
Ooh, look out.
50
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,520
The boomerang is Australia's
most iconic invention.
51
00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,000
A masterstroke of design,
52
00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:41,360
using aerodynamic lift to create
heavier-than-air flight
53
00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:44,280
and a shape which returns it
to the thrower.
54
00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,440
Something we've been doing for
thousands and thousands of years,
55
00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:49,840
learning how to throw them,
56
00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:53,040
so that skill is never lost.
57
00:03:54,800 --> 00:04:00,200
Uncle Moogy Sumner is a Ngarrindjeri
Elder and boomerang expert.
58
00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:03,240
What I'm gonna do here
59
00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:08,000
is I'm gonna draw the flight pattern
onto the boomerang here,
60
00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:12,960
so that when you throw it, it'll
come round and catch that wind,
61
00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,840
because the wind is pushing down
and lifting this up.
62
00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,080
The Ngarrindjeri have direct links
63
00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:22,960
to the oldest boomerang
ever found in Australia.
64
00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,320
A 10,000-year-old marvel
of human invention.
65
00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,040
The boomerang may be ancient
66
00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:32,800
but today, its unique design
67
00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:34,480
is challenging how we think
68
00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:38,000
about one of the greatest inventions
of modern science.
69
00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:44,480
MAN: In 1903, on the plains
of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina,
70
00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:46,160
this history began.
71
00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,400
Since its beginnings
in the early 20th century,
72
00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,000
flight has changed the world.
73
00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:57,000
Aviation history is written
in a never-fading book of records.
74
00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:02,480
We now jet across the planet
without a second thought.
75
00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,000
The technology that makes it possible
76
00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,720
is based on a single,
very special innovation...
77
00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:12,200
..the aerofoil.
78
00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,080
The streamlined wing
slices through the air,
79
00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,000
reducing pressure above it
80
00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,240
while generating excess pressure
81
00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:21,760
on the underside,
82
00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:23,800
lifting it upward into the air.
83
00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:28,600
Aerofoils are the design
behind the wings of jets,
84
00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:30,400
propellers,
85
00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:31,880
engine blades
86
00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,080
and helicopter rotors.
87
00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:39,600
But was the first aerofoil invented
just over a century ago...
88
00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,520
..or thousands of years earlier,
89
00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,080
in Australia?
90
00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,840
The curvature we've been able to see
91
00:05:54,840 --> 00:05:57,600
does suggest
that there is camber there.
92
00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,520
At the University of New South Wales,
93
00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:04,400
Dr Sonya Brown and student
Ahmed Mahgoub
94
00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,320
are analysing the boomerang's
aerodynamics
95
00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:10,120
to determine whether it is, in fact,
96
00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,080
the world's first aerofoil.
97
00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:16,000
In an aerofoil, it has
some characteristics,
98
00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,600
so it's round, the leading edge,
99
00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:22,480
and then it becomes more tipped
toward the trailing edge.
100
00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,200
A cross-section profile
of the boomerang
101
00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:30,160
closely resembles the cross-section
of an aerofoil or wing.
102
00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:33,840
But does it fly the same way?
103
00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:39,680
The simulations are done and now
we have some interesting results.
104
00:06:40,840 --> 00:06:43,200
Red shows pockets of high pressure
105
00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:45,080
as the boomerang rotates.
106
00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:48,680
At the bottom of the boomerang,
we have higher pressure,
107
00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:51,000
which is what generates lift.
108
00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,000
The rotating flight profile
of the boomerang
109
00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,560
reveals its aerodynamic properties.
110
00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:59,560
In the outer section
of the boomerang,
111
00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:01,520
it's acting very similar
to an aerofoil.
112
00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:03,000
Yes.
113
00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:07,000
Pressure distribution almost looks
identical to an aerofoil at the tip.
114
00:07:09,280 --> 00:07:11,560
This is actually an amazing fact,
115
00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:15,560
given that these devices were
invented thousands of years ago.
116
00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:21,640
It's clear that ancient boomerangs
and modern aircraft
117
00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:24,720
share very similar
design characteristics.
118
00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:29,560
Maybe we can go from an inboard
to an outboard, then.
119
00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:31,400
But more evidence is needed
120
00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:35,480
to prove that the boomerang
was the world's first aerofoil.
121
00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,000
Uncle Moogy's people,
the Ngarrindjeri,
122
00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:56,480
can include in their numbers one of
Australia's greatest inventors...
123
00:07:57,600 --> 00:07:59,360
..David Unaipon.
124
00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,160
He's the man on our $50 note.
125
00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:09,640
UNCLE MOOGY SUMNER: Uncle
David Unaipon is special to us here.
126
00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:11,800
When they talk about inventors,
127
00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:13,640
he was one of the best.
128
00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:16,880
He done things before his time.
129
00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:24,000
Unaipon invented the world's first
reciprocating sheep clippers.
130
00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:33,000
Shearing 100 times faster than
anything else available at the time,
131
00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,680
they completely revolutionised
the wool industry
132
00:08:36,680 --> 00:08:40,040
and generated an economic windfall
for Australia.
133
00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,560
But Unaipon also had other ideas...
134
00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:54,200
..including one that may prove
once and for all
135
00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:57,440
that the boomerang was
the world's first aerofoil.
136
00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:03,240
Unaipon theorised that
two boomerangs working together
137
00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:05,400
could generate vertical take-off -
138
00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,600
something never achieved before.
139
00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:25,760
In this newspaper story,
140
00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:28,840
Unaipon was conceptualising
the modern helicopter...
141
00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:32,560
..long before
the first one was built.
142
00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:44,200
But his grand idea never attracted
the support it deserved until now.
143
00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,000
OK. This is the lab.
144
00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:59,000
More than a century later,
145
00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,200
Uncle Moogy Sumner is determined
146
00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,000
to bring David Unaipon's
concept to life.
147
00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,840
Uncle Moogy, I'd like to introduce
our student team.
148
00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,360
Hello.
Yeah, yeah. G'day.
149
00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:11,320
I'm Justin.
Justin, yeah. Moogy.
150
00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:13,000
G'day. I'm Conrad. Nice to meet you.
151
00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:14,640
Natalie. Nice to meet you.
Natalie.
152
00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:16,600
ROB COLLINS: Over the next six weeks,
153
00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:18,360
these engineering students
154
00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:21,840
will attempt to build
an unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV,
155
00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:24,520
using boomerangs as propellers.
156
00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,000
You know the idea
of putting the two together
157
00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:32,480
was done back in 1914?
158
00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:36,000
Oh, wow.
And done by Uncle David Unaipon.
159
00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:37,800
Wow.
Let's make it come true.
160
00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:39,320
Yeah.
161
00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,120
(STUDENTS CHATTER)
162
00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:45,880
We're gonna work with the
aerodynamics of the boomerang,
163
00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:48,040
which is similar
to that of an aerofoil.
164
00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:49,680
Yep.
165
00:10:49,680 --> 00:10:51,160
Good.
166
00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:53,080
I think one of
the biggest challenges
167
00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:54,440
is the fact that the boomerang
168
00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:56,120
could generate
quite a lot of vibration.
169
00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:01,400
We're gonna print out a whole bunch.
170
00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:03,720
This one is currently
the left-handed boomerang
171
00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:05,200
that we have here.
172
00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:10,600
The students will use
eight mini-boomerangs
173
00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:12,360
back to back.
174
00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:15,720
In theory,
if our calculations are right,
175
00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:17,640
the drone should generate some lift
176
00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,000
and should actually
lift above the ground.
177
00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:21,560
Hopefully.
178
00:11:21,560 --> 00:11:24,720
Isabella has a personal investment
in the project.
179
00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:26,360
With my Indigenous heritage,
180
00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:29,040
this project kind of makes me a
little bit more close to the family,
181
00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:30,640
in a way.
182
00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:34,160
I have thought about
the ancient boomerang -
183
00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:37,800
how did they think of this,
how did they know that it would fly?
184
00:11:43,560 --> 00:11:47,440
Two weeks in and an early prototype
is ready for testing.
185
00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:51,440
OK. We're at 70.
I'm so scared of ruining it.
186
00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,440
Ooh... Oh, my God. There we go.
187
00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:58,480
No, no, no, no. It's fine.
It's fine.
188
00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:00,960
Oh, my God!
189
00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:02,440
No, you're short. Go more.
190
00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:05,280
No, no, no, no, no! It's...
Stop. Stop.
191
00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:06,960
Oh!
192
00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:08,960
Oh, no! It ruined it!
193
00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:11,640
The students have four weeks
194
00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:14,440
before the final product
will be flown outside,
195
00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:16,000
in real-life conditions.
196
00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:19,000
UNCLE MOOGY: I'm nervous,
197
00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:23,720
because there's so much belief went
into this by my people back home.
198
00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:26,480
Everyone knows, back home,
what Uncle David done.
199
00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:44,000
Historically, Western science
has paid little attention
200
00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:45,560
to traditional knowledge.
201
00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:51,560
But today, as we face
new and complex challenges,
202
00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:54,200
this is starting to change.
203
00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,600
Australia is home
to thousands of plant species
204
00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:01,560
that don't exist anywhere else.
205
00:13:01,560 --> 00:13:05,040
My ancestors harnessed
this life-giving resource
206
00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:07,080
and it's this knowledge of medicine
207
00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:10,680
that's bringing modern science
and traditional knowledge together
208
00:13:10,680 --> 00:13:14,360
in a union that ultimately
benefits all of us.
209
00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:26,720
Aunty Fran Bodkin knows
the healing power
210
00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:29,720
of thousands of Australian
native plants.
211
00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,000
Have a feel of those leaves.
212
00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,160
Oh, yeah, they are quite spiky.
213
00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:38,080
Yeah - and that's what we used
around our camp fires at night.
214
00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,560
Journalist Ben Abbatangelo
has been investigating
215
00:13:42,560 --> 00:13:45,800
what secrets may be found
in the Australian bush.
216
00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:52,880
I've been wondering - how can you
tell what you can and can't eat?
217
00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:55,800
Well...there's a system
218
00:13:55,800 --> 00:14:00,280
and it usually starts with a child
when it starts to seek its own food.
219
00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:04,000
Firstly, you rub it
on the back of the child's hand.
220
00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:05,760
If there's no reaction there,
221
00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:07,960
you rub on the inside of the elbow
222
00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:12,280
and if there's no reaction there,
you can start off on the lips.
223
00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,440
And if there's no reaction there,
224
00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:17,200
the kid can have a taste of it,
swallow it
225
00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:19,640
and if he doesn't
bring it back up again...
226
00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:21,920
Good to go.
It's good to go.
227
00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:27,840
Pharmacology professor Gerald Muench
228
00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:30,800
is investigating Aunty Fran's work,
229
00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:35,080
which documents the uses
of 11,000 native plants.
230
00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:38,120
So, we basically treat those plants
231
00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:41,040
as a pharmaceutical source
of compounds
232
00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:45,960
and we test those plants
in our cell culture esters.
233
00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:50,240
We lived here for...
how many thousands of years,
234
00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,920
and we were healthy.
235
00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:55,880
Gerald hopes this information
236
00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:59,240
will lead to the next major
pharmaceutical breakthrough.
237
00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:01,800
So, Ben, let's gown you up.
238
00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:03,800
Here are the lab coats.
Gowns on.
239
00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:05,520
Mm-hm.
Beautiful.
240
00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:08,480
I must admit, Professor, I was
looking forward to this moment.
241
00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:14,440
So, the advantage of having
the pharmacopoeia
242
00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:18,640
is we don't have to randomly screen
all the plants in Australia
243
00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:22,960
and have a higher hit rate
to find active plant samples.
244
00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:27,280
So, the objective is
to break down the extract
245
00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:29,200
into individual compounds.
246
00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:31,840
Just cut them in bits and pieces.
247
00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:35,360
So, I'm just cutting these.
Does it matter...
248
00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,680
Yep, many as you can,
and grab a second one
249
00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:39,480
and then I'll make them
a bit smaller.
250
00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:43,040
This native water gum
is traditionally used
251
00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:45,560
to clear sores and ulcers.
252
00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:49,000
Today, it's hoped the chemical
compounds in its leaves
253
00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:52,800
may deliver a powerful remedy
for inflammation.
254
00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:56,200
Many of the chronic diseases are
linked to chronic inflammation,
255
00:15:56,200 --> 00:16:00,600
so the more people we have,
the more is the need for a variety,
256
00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:04,480
for an arsenal of different
anti-inflammatory drugs.
257
00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,600
We have drugs
but we need better ones,
258
00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:09,640
which have less side effects.
259
00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:13,760
This is extract full of leaves.
260
00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,640
So, what's happening
in this moment now?
261
00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:23,600
Yes. So, we have destroyed all the
leaves, all the cells of the leaves.
262
00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,720
All the compounds
are now leaching out.
263
00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:30,000
Incubated for 18 hours,
264
00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,240
the solution will then be tested.
265
00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:36,280
Because this plant has been
used by Indigenous Australians
266
00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:38,200
for thousands of years,
267
00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:43,280
these active compounds are known to
be safe from dangerous side effects.
268
00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,520
Gerald's team has already
made a notable discovery.
269
00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,360
So, Ben, we have found something
very exciting -
270
00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:54,000
a novel molecule no-one has
discovered before
271
00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:56,320
and it has anti-inflammatory
properties.
272
00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:58,160
So, this is the structure, Ben.
273
00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:00,360
You can see the molecule rotating.
274
00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:07,840
These native gum leaves contain
an anti-inflammatory compound,
275
00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:11,200
which may have a range of other uses.
276
00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,360
The Aunty Fran Pharmacopoeia
277
00:17:13,360 --> 00:17:16,560
is a treasure-trove
for medical knowledge.
278
00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,280
Yeah, what a time
to be in science here, in medicine.
279
00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:21,960
Absolutely.
280
00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,480
Using Western medicine
to make the scientific discoveries
281
00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:27,840
based on Indigenous knowledge.
282
00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:31,840
That will bring medicinal chemistry
a big step forward.
283
00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:38,240
Around 100 plants in Aunty Fran's
book are now being analysed.
284
00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:42,640
Aboriginal knowledge, you know,
if you share it,
285
00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,000
it's your gift to the future.
286
00:18:04,120 --> 00:18:07,840
Most traditional knowledge
can't be found on a bookshelf.
287
00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:13,160
Sometimes we must go farther afield.
288
00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,600
Arnhem Land, in Australia's Top End,
289
00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:21,680
is a place where ancient knowledge
survives as an unbroken tradition.
290
00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:25,800
Today,
291
00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:29,600
knowledge here is helping tackle one
of the world's greatest challenges...
292
00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:32,640
..climate change.
293
00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:38,960
Robert. I'm Robert.
294
00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:40,600
Nice to meet you.
295
00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:44,280
My name is Norrie Martin
and this is my home.
296
00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:46,760
I'm T.O. of this country.
297
00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:50,200
And this is where
me and my old man live.
298
00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,120
He's a Dyungkayi for this area.
299
00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:55,040
Yes. I'm Dyungkayi for this land.
300
00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:59,880
Robert Redford
is a senior knowledge holder,
301
00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:02,120
responsible for an area of land
302
00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:05,880
around the same size
as Wales in Great Britain.
303
00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:08,320
Rob, what's that word - 'djungkayi'?
'Caretaker'?
304
00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:10,440
Yes.
Sort of like a caretaker.
305
00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:12,920
Like a policeman, eh? Yeah.
306
00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:16,440
This is a young one.
307
00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:19,400
We're looking for firesticks,
essentially.
308
00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:23,000
I think we found it.
309
00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:30,040
So, one stick has to be
harder than the other
310
00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:33,000
and the other one has to be softer,
to create that friction.
311
00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:36,640
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
312
00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,160
Yeah. You look him, coming up.
313
00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:47,880
Yeah. You can smell it too.
314
00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:52,080
At a glance, this hardly looks like
a solution to climate change.
315
00:19:54,120 --> 00:19:56,480
There! We got our fire.
316
00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:58,840
(LAUGHTER)
317
00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:00,360
Wow.
318
00:20:00,360 --> 00:20:02,520
But Robert and his family
319
00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:07,000
run one of the world's most respected
carbon-reduction programs.
320
00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,440
Mission rolling.
Mission rolling, eh?
321
00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:15,920
Roger, mate. Thank you.
322
00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:18,400
This is Robert's son,
323
00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:20,480
Mimal ranger Robert Junior.
324
00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:26,120
And today, he's stopping major
wildfires from starting in future.
325
00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:33,000
These rangers are dropping fires
across acres of country.
326
00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,240
Now, this might seem like
the wrong thing to be doing
327
00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:37,880
to combat climate change
328
00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:39,520
but trust me -
329
00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:42,000
these carers of country
know exactly what they're doing.
330
00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:54,240
Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.
331
00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,040
Alright, Junior. What are we doing?
332
00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,320
Well, yeah,
we'll be burning along here,
333
00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:04,440
so we can make a new break.
334
00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:08,000
The Mimal Rangers are deploying
a traditional innovation
335
00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,240
to battle climate change.
336
00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:12,120
So, gonna throw
some matches up here.
337
00:21:12,120 --> 00:21:13,280
Yep.
338
00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:23,600
Trees are 50% carbon.
339
00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:28,480
When they burn, that carbon is
released into our atmosphere,
340
00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:30,400
increasing global warming.
341
00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:34,200
MAN: Don't go into a room
you can't get out of.
342
00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:38,640
The blazes that recently ravaged
Australia, California and Europe
343
00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:42,560
released close to a billion tons
of carbon into the atmosphere.
344
00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:47,440
That's close to the same output of
carbon as Japan in a whole year.
345
00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,240
Are you ready there?
Let's do it.
346
00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:57,600
Wild bushfires
need fuel loads on the ground -
347
00:21:57,600 --> 00:21:59,800
dead trees and grasses.
348
00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:03,440
Yeah. Keep going.
349
00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:04,960
Keep going.
350
00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,120
And follow this end here.
Follow the edge?
351
00:22:15,120 --> 00:22:17,000
Yeah, follow the edge.
352
00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:21,720
For thousands of years, Indigenous
Australians have removed fuel loads
353
00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:24,120
to make their land fire-resistant.
354
00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:28,320
It's a case
of fighting fire with fire.
355
00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:31,280
Yeah.
Ah.
356
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,440
The innovative technique
uses low heat
357
00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:42,600
through a special mosaic pattern.
358
00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:45,720
Trees are left untouched.
359
00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:49,320
I find it amazing,
when you do the cold burn...
360
00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:50,320
Yeah, yeah.
361
00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:52,160
..how come it doesn't
climb up that tree?
362
00:22:57,280 --> 00:22:59,520
Yeah. So if you do it
at the wrong time...
363
00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:04,800
Get really hot.
364
00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:06,840
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
Yeah.
365
00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:10,520
For millennia, this was done
with just two sticks.
366
00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:14,360
It's now an industrial-scale
operation.
367
00:23:18,360 --> 00:23:19,720
Oh, wow!
368
00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:42,280
Today's burn will create
a natural fire break
369
00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,360
across 40km of land.
370
00:23:44,360 --> 00:23:46,920
So, how many charges altogether
do we have?
371
00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,560
These small fire pellets
ignite flames,
372
00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:01,000
reducing fuel loads on the ground.
373
00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:08,320
Going through here, yeah.
374
00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:16,520
Yep. So they meet, the fire scars.
Yeah, yeah.
375
00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:21,640
The Mimal Rangers
deploy this technique
376
00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,480
across 18,000 square kilometres,
377
00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:27,680
an area similar in size
to a small country.
378
00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:36,040
The Mimal Rangers are paid
out of carbon credits.
379
00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:39,000
But just how effective is their work?
380
00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:44,440
So, Ben, where are we headed to
today?
381
00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:48,880
I'm gonna show you a historic
scientific fire plot,
382
00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,320
so, these plots are foundational
383
00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:55,320
to the science that underpins
the carbon accounting.
384
00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:04,280
Coordinator of the program Ben Lewis
calculates the carbon reduction
385
00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:10,280
by measuring every tree, bit of scrub
and even the leaves on the ground.
386
00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:14,720
All the trees
alongside the plot are measured,
387
00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,880
so we know how much carbon
is stored in our trees.
388
00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:19,680
You want to have a go
at tree-hugging?
389
00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:21,440
Yeah, please!
390
00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:25,120
Since this program became official
25 years ago,
391
00:25:25,120 --> 00:25:28,880
a massive reduction
in wildfires has followed.
392
00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:31,320
So, what's been the end result
of all this research?
393
00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:33,320
I mean, how effective
has it actually been?
394
00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:35,560
With the accounting method,
we can show
395
00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:37,240
that our good fire management
396
00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:39,840
essentially halves
the emissions from fire.
397
00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:41,320
Half?
Yep.
398
00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:43,120
So we've halved
our carbon pollution.
399
00:25:43,120 --> 00:25:45,520
Wow. That's quite significant.
Yeah, it's a lot.
400
00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:49,000
Deployed right across Australia,
401
00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:52,360
programs like this could save
millions of tons of carbon
402
00:25:52,360 --> 00:25:54,240
from entering the atmosphere.
403
00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:57,600
Which is one of the reasons
404
00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:00,280
why First Nations communities
around Australia
405
00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:02,240
are seen as part of the solution.
406
00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:06,240
What I've witnessed here today
407
00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:10,000
is Indigenous knowledge
and Western science working together
408
00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:14,240
to deliver the kind of solutions that
humanity will come to depend on.
409
00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:17,560
Stuff that's been around
for thousands of years.
410
00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:21,360
After this, I'm wondering
what else is possible.
411
00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:40,360
After six weeks of trial and error...
412
00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:44,720
..it's the day of reckoning
for the unmanned aerial vehicle.
413
00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:51,000
Based on a concept developed by
Ngarrindjeri inventor David Unaipon,
414
00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:54,000
the UAV uses boomerangs
as propellers.
415
00:26:57,480 --> 00:26:59,400
UNCLE MOOGY SUMNER: Back in 1914,
416
00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:01,640
Uncle David Unaipon,
he had that idea.
417
00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:05,520
For Uncle Moogy
and the Ngarrindjeri people,
418
00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:08,240
this test flight has
very special significance.
419
00:27:10,360 --> 00:27:12,400
I mean, you look at Western science,
420
00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:16,000
of how they looked at us
as Aboriginal people, you know?
421
00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:21,720
We were what they considered
to be a backward people.
422
00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:26,600
And yet we designed something
from a piece of wood,
423
00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,520
that you can throw away
and it'll come back to you.
424
00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:32,120
The aerodynamics of a piece of wood.
425
00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:36,600
David Unaipon never received
financial reward
426
00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:38,400
or proper recognition
427
00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:40,840
for inventing
the reciprocating sheep shears.
428
00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:47,320
Today, Uncle Moogy hopes to remind
us all of Unaipon's brilliance...
429
00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:51,840
That's what they wanted.
Yeah.
430
00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:57,360
..and possibly prove the boomerang
was the world's first aerofoil.
431
00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:01,400
It's a big day here today.
432
00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:05,000
Not just for everyone
but for the Ngarrindjeri People.
433
00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:07,640
My people, Uncle David's people.
434
00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:13,080
Today, it's gonna come to life again
435
00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:14,960
and this is what we want.
436
00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:17,440
Because of him.
437
00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:21,480
Good.
438
00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:33,440
It's the design
that changed the world forever.
439
00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:36,200
It made it possible for us to fly.
440
00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:41,000
But was the aerofoil created
441
00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:46,000
some 10,000 years before
modern inventors took to the sky?
442
00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:55,640
I'm nervous.
443
00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:58,320
I'm nervous 'cause there's still
lots of things that could go wrong,
444
00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:00,120
so definitely nervous.
445
00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:02,920
Good.
Ready?
446
00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:13,760
Oh, oh, oh...
447
00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:16,360
Whoa!
448
00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:18,400
Oh, yeah, low. Low.
It's going, it's going!
449
00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:21,000
Oh...oh!
450
00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:22,800
Come on, come on!
451
00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:25,320
Yeah!
(STUDENTS CHEER)
452
00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:29,120
(CHEERING CONTINUES)
453
00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:31,960
(LAUGHS) Perfect! Whoo!
454
00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:39,840
Merging modern technology
with First Nations ingenuity...
455
00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:45,080
..Unaipon was decades
ahead of his time.
456
00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:46,880
Well done.
Well done.
457
00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:49,720
And...and...well done, everyone.
458
00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:52,640
Oh, and especially you.
Thank you for being here, Moogy.
459
00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:55,480
Thank you, mate.
Thank you so much for coming.
460
00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:57,200
Thank you so much.
461
00:29:57,200 --> 00:29:59,520
Oh, good on you!
462
00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:03,000
It made me feel like
Uncle David Unaipon,
463
00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,920
his dream is coming true.
464
00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:10,000
It made me feel like my blood
was rushing through my veins
465
00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:13,200
and to feel him...feel him,
it's like feeling his spirit here.
466
00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:17,520
I grew up knowing him.
467
00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:22,000
Watching this makes me feel like
468
00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:24,000
his dreams are coming to life.
469
00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:29,240
And he knows it, because
his spirit is here with us.
470
00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:34,160
Today's humble flight is the proof
471
00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:37,200
which backdates
the invention of the aerofoil
472
00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:39,520
by at least 10,000 years.
473
00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:43,000
It's definitely demonstrated
that, you know,
474
00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:44,640
boomerang technology
475
00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:47,360
can lead to propulsion,
476
00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:50,400
particularly vertically taking off
and landing on the ground.
477
00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:53,440
And today's well and truly shown
that it does work.
478
00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:59,000
More people are gonna study this,
younger people are gonna study it
479
00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:00,720
and bring it to life.
480
00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:03,800
It can only get better from here.
481
00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:24,320
In this series,
we've revealed innovations
482
00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:27,000
which aren't found
anywhere else in the world...
483
00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:32,000
Where you have a machine
being used for 7,000 years.
484
00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:35,280
..the world's most effective
memory techniques,
485
00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:38,320
recording events
from thousands of years ago...
486
00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:41,240
(SPEAKS INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE)
487
00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:46,120
..maps that exist only in the mind
488
00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:48,280
and are learned through song...
489
00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:51,720
..astronomy...
490
00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:55,360
..complex social organisation...
491
00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:58,160
This is a really optimised system.
492
00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:03,280
..communication systems extending
thousands of kilometres...
493
00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:07,840
It's amazing how much information
is encoded in these objects.
494
00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:11,960
..and superhighways
connecting nations.
495
00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:16,640
We ran 125 billion pathways
496
00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:18,240
through Australia.
497
00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:29,000
Now I'm about to tell you
how this is all wrong.
498
00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:32,000
Of course, all the information
is correct
499
00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:35,360
but to make this a series
accessible to all audiences,
500
00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:38,160
it's been divided up
and compartmentalised
501
00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:41,680
into history, society,
law, communications and so on -
502
00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:45,000
but that's not how
First Nations knowledge functions.
503
00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:47,000
See, in my culture,
504
00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:49,000
everything is connected.
505
00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,000
In the Northern Territory,
506
00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:02,040
Elder Yidumduma Bill Harney
507
00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:04,960
is offering curator Tui Raven
a glimpse
508
00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:07,920
into how all knowledge interconnects.
509
00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:09,880
So, where are you gonna take me now?
510
00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:21,240
At a sacred site, story and art
link to the moon...
511
00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:25,800
..and the moon helps Bill
to predict the weather.
512
00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:48,280
In the Northern Territory,
513
00:33:48,280 --> 00:33:51,240
Elder Yidumduma Bill Harney
514
00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:54,120
is offering curator Tui Raven
a glimpse
515
00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:57,000
into how all knowledge
interconnects.
516
00:33:57,000 --> 00:33:59,000
So, where are you taking me now?
517
00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:07,800
This place is sacred
to Bill's people,
518
00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:09,520
the Wardaman.
519
00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:14,440
Gundawa?
Gundawa.
520
00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:43,000
At first, this story seems to be
just that - a story.
521
00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:01,480
Often misunderstood by outsiders,
522
00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:05,000
Dreaming stories are much more
than just a good yarn.
523
00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:11,000
This one actually helps Uncle Bill
predict the weather,
524
00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:14,240
by indicating when
a storm or rain is coming.
525
00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:20,840
This here is a headdress?
Yeah, headdress.
526
00:35:22,240 --> 00:35:25,000
The Moon Spirit wears a headdress...
527
00:35:26,280 --> 00:35:30,480
..a symbol of a very real
and well-known natural phenomenon
528
00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:32,680
called moon haloes.
529
00:35:43,720 --> 00:35:46,120
Moon haloes are light refracting
530
00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:49,000
through ice crystals
in cirrus clouds.
531
00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:53,000
Cirrus clouds often
precipitate storms.
532
00:36:02,320 --> 00:36:05,480
Elders examine the position
of the halo to the moon...
533
00:36:06,720 --> 00:36:09,000
..how many stars appear
within the halo
534
00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:10,880
and the number of haloes present
535
00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:14,520
to predict atmospheric conditions
like storms.
536
00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:17,000
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
537
00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:21,360
This story has taught countless
generations of Wardaman people
538
00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:24,200
how to predict rain and storms.
539
00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:26,800
Through spiritual beliefs,
540
00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:30,000
First Nations knowledge connects
to the physical world.
541
00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:40,160
You know your lore and you know
your country and your songlines
542
00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:41,920
and creation time.
543
00:36:41,920 --> 00:36:44,080
Yeah, yeah.
You know your country pretty well.
544
00:36:44,080 --> 00:36:45,560
Yeah.
545
00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:48,720
Yeah.
546
00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:52,640
Yeah.
547
00:36:55,560 --> 00:36:58,560
You're very sprightly.
(BOTH LAUGH)
548
00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:20,680
There's enormous value for us all
549
00:37:20,680 --> 00:37:22,640
in Indigenous knowledge.
550
00:37:23,720 --> 00:37:28,000
But first, there are barriers
that are yet to be overcome.
551
00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:34,000
Every single Indigenous person
featured in this series
552
00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:35,800
bears the impact of colonisation
553
00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:37,840
and its enduring legacy.
554
00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:44,000
This is...not so long ago.
555
00:37:45,160 --> 00:37:47,560
Still fresh in our minds.
556
00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:50,360
(SOFTLY) Just...two seconds.
557
00:37:52,240 --> 00:37:55,400
They, like me, know
558
00:37:55,400 --> 00:37:59,280
that if Western and traditional
knowledge are to work together,
559
00:37:59,280 --> 00:38:02,400
to solve the great challenges
we face today...
560
00:38:03,720 --> 00:38:07,000
..we all need to
better understand the past.
561
00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:14,840
And it starts with
conversations like this one.
562
00:38:16,840 --> 00:38:19,120
Hey, Denise.
Hi. How are you?
563
00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:20,880
Good. How are you doing?
I'm good.
564
00:38:20,880 --> 00:38:22,640
Welcome to Lake Condah Mission.
565
00:38:32,320 --> 00:38:34,240
Hey, Denise.
Hi. How are you?
566
00:38:34,240 --> 00:38:36,000
Good. How are you doing?
I'm good.
567
00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:38,160
Welcome to Lake Condah Mission.
568
00:38:38,160 --> 00:38:40,480
On Gunditjmara country,
569
00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:43,600
Tui Raven is learning
about the brutal war
570
00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:46,800
waged against Denise Lovett's people.
571
00:38:46,800 --> 00:38:49,800
As to what's happened
to my grandmother,
572
00:38:49,800 --> 00:38:52,000
my mother, my great-grandmothers,
573
00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:53,480
my grandfathers...
574
00:38:54,480 --> 00:38:56,920
..what happened to them
should never happen to them.
575
00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:04,760
Squatters, who started grazing
livestock here in the 1830s,
576
00:39:04,760 --> 00:39:08,200
had scant regard
for the traditional owners.
577
00:39:08,200 --> 00:39:10,280
(ANGRY SHOUTING, GUNFIRE)
578
00:39:10,280 --> 00:39:12,200
Violence soon erupted.
579
00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:17,240
It was just greed that was doing it.
580
00:39:17,240 --> 00:39:18,920
They just wanted the land
581
00:39:18,920 --> 00:39:21,480
and they didn't want
nothing to do with the people,
582
00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:23,080
so they just killed them.
583
00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:27,000
Gunditjmara warriors
resisted the squatters
584
00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:30,000
and fought a frontier war
that lasted decades.
585
00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:36,000
Eventually, the Gunditjmara
were brutally overpowered.
586
00:39:37,520 --> 00:39:39,400
My great-grandmother Hannah,
587
00:39:39,400 --> 00:39:43,480
she had come on the mission
with her mother as a toddler.
588
00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:47,520
They'd come down through,
um, Budj Bim.
589
00:39:50,400 --> 00:39:52,160
Her mother, Susanna,
590
00:39:52,160 --> 00:39:55,480
hid her and her brother
in the reeds.
591
00:39:57,320 --> 00:39:59,000
'Cause a massacre was happening.
592
00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:06,760
Denise's great-grandmother
was among the survivors.
593
00:40:13,920 --> 00:40:18,640
And you think...Gunditjmara country
had 59 clans.
594
00:40:18,640 --> 00:40:23,280
59 families that lived across
our country from the, um...
595
00:40:23,280 --> 00:40:25,960
..Glenelg River
to the Hopkins River,
596
00:40:25,960 --> 00:40:28,640
just the other side of Warrnambool.
597
00:40:28,640 --> 00:40:31,520
Through the massacres
and the sicknesses
598
00:40:31,520 --> 00:40:33,400
and killing times,
599
00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:36,800
70 people got to be here
at one time.
600
00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:40,240
And, um...the rest never made it.
601
00:40:44,880 --> 00:40:48,240
Survivors were forced
to live on Lake Condah Mission.
602
00:40:49,840 --> 00:40:51,520
They made it to here.
603
00:40:51,520 --> 00:40:53,840
Susanna died here
at Lake Condah Mission
604
00:40:53,840 --> 00:40:58,160
and Hannah and her brother...
grew up here.
605
00:40:59,840 --> 00:41:02,600
Traditional knowledge was banned.
606
00:41:06,760 --> 00:41:10,800
So, this was the building
that they put the children into.
607
00:41:12,200 --> 00:41:15,400
That was that separation -
break that cultural connection.
608
00:41:15,400 --> 00:41:18,000
Yeah.
And that's what was happening here.
609
00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:27,200
Despite the most extraordinary
adversity imaginable,
610
00:41:27,200 --> 00:41:30,880
traditional knowledge
is now regenerating rapidly.
611
00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:39,400
Today, Denise's son Tyson continues
Gunditjmara tradition
612
00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:41,240
by managing country.
613
00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:47,000
I see the opportunities.
614
00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:50,560
I've seen how my children and my
nieces and nephews and my community
615
00:41:50,560 --> 00:41:52,560
have grown up and been supported.
616
00:41:53,560 --> 00:41:56,280
So it's their time to do things
617
00:41:56,280 --> 00:41:59,640
that they want to do
and achieve their dreams.
618
00:42:08,480 --> 00:42:11,560
There's a tremendous wave
of cultural revitalisation
619
00:42:11,560 --> 00:42:13,280
that's coming through
620
00:42:13,280 --> 00:42:15,960
and it's an amazing time
to witness that.
621
00:42:15,960 --> 00:42:18,520
MAN: It requires making
that reconnection,
622
00:42:18,520 --> 00:42:21,080
getting feet on the ground,
connecting with country,
623
00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:22,680
understanding what it needs.
624
00:42:22,680 --> 00:42:25,320
Because of when we were colonised,
625
00:42:25,320 --> 00:42:29,240
a lot of our mob
have actually forgotten this
626
00:42:29,240 --> 00:42:33,600
but the thing about this system is
that you just need one individual
627
00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:35,360
to know where they fit -
628
00:42:35,360 --> 00:42:37,600
so, for example, that may be,
like, my mother,
629
00:42:37,600 --> 00:42:39,880
then you can work out
where you fit in the system.
630
00:42:39,880 --> 00:42:42,360
You can reseed the entire system,
631
00:42:42,360 --> 00:42:45,480
so it's robust to disruption
and colonialism
632
00:42:45,480 --> 00:42:47,640
and we can get it back -
it's all there.
633
00:42:55,640 --> 00:42:57,400
WOMAN: What we find,
again and again,
634
00:42:57,400 --> 00:43:00,360
is when we bring our Western science
to look at a question,
635
00:43:00,360 --> 00:43:02,400
there's invariably
an Indigenous science
636
00:43:02,400 --> 00:43:05,160
that's already been thinking
about that, into deep time.
637
00:43:07,080 --> 00:43:08,600
MAN: Our teaching's been passed down
638
00:43:08,600 --> 00:43:10,320
through generations,
then generations
639
00:43:10,320 --> 00:43:13,560
and those teachings are
to be looking after country,
640
00:43:13,560 --> 00:43:15,600
looking after the environment.
641
00:43:16,680 --> 00:43:19,000
The way forward is together.
642
00:43:19,000 --> 00:43:23,720
And I think it's one great thing
about Aboriginal people,
643
00:43:23,720 --> 00:43:25,840
is that we are open
to moving forward together.
644
00:43:26,840 --> 00:43:32,000
It's how we marry old science
and new science
645
00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:34,720
and we get a future for our...
for our kids.
646
00:43:39,040 --> 00:43:41,680
The revival and spread
of this knowledge
647
00:43:41,680 --> 00:43:43,800
acts as a great beacon of hope
648
00:43:43,800 --> 00:43:45,560
for all Australians...
649
00:43:47,000 --> 00:43:50,040
..and our shared future
on this continent.
650
00:43:50,040 --> 00:43:51,840
But I can't help but feel
651
00:43:51,840 --> 00:43:55,000
that we've only just touched
the tip of the iceberg.
652
00:43:55,000 --> 00:43:58,000
There's so much more that
this country has to reveal.
653
00:43:59,400 --> 00:44:01,200
I guess we just need to be listening.
654
00:44:15,720 --> 00:44:17,720
Captions by Red Bee Media
51660
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.