Standard Presentation (12 minutes) Australian Marine Sciences Association 2025 Conference

Inclusion of Aboriginal Women’s Cultural Ecological Knowledges in Mapping Cultural Important Areas for Sea-Kin (120570)

Jodi Edwards 1 , Chels Marshall 1
  1. University of Wollongong, Wollongong, AUSTRALIA, Australia

Aboriginal Women’s CEK approach does more than support conservation and management planning—it actively integrates intergenerational perspectives and values into decision-making processes and informs Scientific knowledges. Central to this approach is the incorporation of Indigenous women's cultural practices of cooperative fishing, diving, and Sea Management Strategies based on their CEK, as well as their unique contributions to understanding the metaphysical relationship to Sea Kin—a term that embodies the profound and interconnected relationships Indigenous peoples maintain with the marine environment. By highlighting, Indigenous women are critical in mapping culturally significant areas related to Sea Kin, offering invaluable insights that guide sustainable management practices. This role emphasizes the need to include Indigenous women’s voices not only in the mapping process but also in broader conversations about marine conservation.

CEK, viewed through this lens, is not simply a repository of environmental knowledge; it is a profound spiritual and cultural framework that underpins Indigenous peoples' relationship with the marine world. As such, by positioning CEK, particularly in relation to Sea Kin, at the forefront of marine research and conservation, we recognize the necessity of respecting and incorporating Indigenous knowledge systems into scientific and policy frameworks that shape the future of marine ecosystems.

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