Case Study: Caring for Country in Western Cape York, Australia
A multi-year, multi-community journey blending cultural knowledge, two-way science, digital capability, youth leadership and community-led governance.
This case study shows what becomes possible when Elders, young people, community organisations, industry walk together with respect and shared purpose.
Overview
Across Western Cape York, Indigital has been privileged to walk alongside Traditional Custodians, communities and partners to strengthen Caring for Country, grow community capability and create pathways for future opportunity.
This multi-year journey brings together cultural knowledge, digital innovation, community leadership and two-way science, demonstrating what’s possible when culture guides technology and industry walks with respect.
The Journey So Far
Season One: Cultural Storytelling
Season 1 delivered in 2024 focused on building trust, strengthening cultural governance, and introducing emerging technologies as cultural tools, including Augmented and Virtual Reality storytelling.
Season Two: Our Waters, Our Futures
Season 2 delivered in 2025 deepened community-led environmental monitoring through eDNA, LiDAR, waterway mapping, on-Country science, and youth pathways, blending ecological knowledge and cultural protocol to protect freshwater ecosystems.
Season Three will take place in 2026, centred on Drones on Country, bringing new tools and skills into the hands of communities to map Country, monitor waterways and shape future conservation work. This direction has been guided by community voices; we listened to local aspirations, and Season Three reflects what communities told us they want to learn, lead and grow. Building on the foundations of Seasons One and Two, this next chapter will deepen capability, leadership and opportunities for generations to come.
“The land is fundamental to us Indigenous people. We come from the land. You take care of the land. Land will take care of you. Both environmentally, physically, psychologically. Scientifically. We speak to the land, we sing to the land, we rejoice to the land.”
Thanakwith Traditional Owner Uncle Richard Barkley
What makes this work unique
Indigenous-led Systems Change
Grounded in cultural governance, community-defined priorities and the leadership of Elders across each community.
Two-Way Science in Action
Cultural knowledge working alongside eDNA, LiDAR, drones, waterway monitoring and ecological mapping, guided by cultural protocols and community context.
Future Skills Pathways
Youth and community capability built across digital tools, environmental science, mapping, AR/VR, drone skills and enterprise readiness.
Community-Led Decision Making
Elders and Traditional Owners guiding every step, with local organisations collaborating under shared purpose and transparent governance.
Industry Alignment
Built on FPIC principles, cultural legitimacy, long-term commitments and genuine collaboration — creating a model that can be adapted across other regions and sectors.
“We need to have our children embrace and embed those kind of positive thought processes that can help them get up, stand up and move forward in life...... if you get rid of that tunnel vision, and open your peripherals, you'll see that there is a lot that can be done and that we can contribute not just for ourselves, but our families and our community as a whole”
Algnith Traditional Owner Uncle Ernest Madua Jnr.
Outcomes
For community
Strengthened cultural leadership, identity and language
Increased capability in digital conservation tools
New pathways into employment, enterprise and environmental work
Youth confidence and engagement in STEM and cultural knowledge
Regenerated waterways and environmental monitoring grounded in culture
For partners
Strengthened trust and governance
Tangible progress toward FPIC and community-led decision making
Future-ready local workforce capability
Opportunities for nature repair markets, rehabilitation and ESG reporting
A culturally legitimate, replicable systems-change model
“Well, sitting down, learning this, what you're gonna teach us with this new technology....it's good we share our culture through this way so everyone can see that we still got our culture, you know, its alive. You know, it's been passed on from generation to generation. So I would like to keep carrying on doing all these, you know, cultural way and all these cultural stuff, telling our stories. It will help us to protect our country, protect our sacred sites”
Wathayn/Alngith Traditional Owner Uncle Herbert.
Wathayn/Alngith Traditional Owner Uncle Herbert
Image: Wathayn/Alngith Traditional Owner Uncle Herbert and Thanakwith Wathayn Traditional Owner Aunty Lorraine Coconut
