Kowanyama
Kowanyama means “place of many waters” in the Yir Yoront language. The community includes the Kokoberra, Yir Yoront [or Kokomenjen] and Kunjen clans, who each have language and other cultural differences. Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire consists of beautiful and unique wetlands and delta mangroves in the north, extending to forest country of the central peninsula.
600km north-west of Cairns
Kokoberra, Yir Yoront (or Kokomnjen) and Kunjen people
population (ABS 2021)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders (ABS 2021)
occupied dwellings; 4 people per ATSI household (ABS 2021)
Research Partner
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council
Since its inception in 1991, the Kowanyama Aboriginal Land and Natural Resources Management Office (KALNRMO) (the Land Office) has operated on a charter to support and facilitate Aboriginal management of the natural and cultural resources of Kowanyama land and sea country by the people of Kowanyama.
Local Research Team
Community co-researchers are employed in each community to support research activities and contribute research findings between site visits. These roles provide local jobs and support capacity building.
Community co-researchers play a central role in the research, liaising between the research team and the local community, providing cultural guidance to the research team, acting as translators, facilitating research activities, identifying possible participants and communicating information to community members.
We’d like to extend our gratitude to the support of our Djarindjin / Lombadina co-researchers and research partners:
Shiquea Creek
Co-Researcher
Taylor Edwards
Co-Researcher
Anzac Frank
Co-Researcher
Fitzroy Lawrence
Senior Ranger, Co-Researcher
Photos from research activities
Mapping the Digital Gap
Mapping the Digital Gap is the first extensive study of digital inclusion and use of media and communications services in remote First Nations communities across Australia. Using qualitative and quantitative research methods, the project is providing data to help measure progress on Closing the Gap Target 17, which aims for equivalent levels of digital inclusion for First Nations people by 2026.
Mapping the Digital Gap is a partnership project between the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S) and funding partner Telstra, as part of the Australian Digital Inclusion Index research suite. The research team also partner with local First Nations organisations and co-researchers to undertake on-site research annually in participating communities.