There are many reasons for making this information public. Back in 2014 the Yugul Mangi Rangers were doing animal surveys and consulting elders and many books to identify and learn about the species we were finding. We wanted to make it easier for our work to book and website specific to this area that included traditional knowledge and language. It quickly became evident that all local people, old and young, want to strengthen knowledge about country, culture and language. 

Over the last decades there have been a lot of changes in our area that are affecting these things simultaneously: European occupation and policies, feral animals, changing lifestyles, changing land management practices and sickness. Many of these influences continue today. This publication is part of a larger movement of people working together to turn this around. 

To achieve this we decided to make a local animal and plant reference book, and that Ngukurr people would be integral to its creation. Rangers, language workers and young people spent many hours finding words in books and writing down new words and stories with elders. Many of the photos were taken by us in the process of this work and we tried to use these photos rather than photos taken elsewhere. Linguists and ecologist supported the compilation. 

The language reference books we used were in old and new writing systems. While we have done our best to use the most recent writing system there may still be some inconsistencies. Please tell us if your find any. This is still a working document and we hope that people will help us fill in any missing information and provide corrections as they arise. 

For some decades elders and young people in Ngukurr have been committed and proactive in bringing the old languages back into use, and passing on the associated knowledge about plants and animals and how to survive in and look after country, and this publication aims to contribute to that end. 

So far, in the making of this publication, we've been able to include Alawa, Marra, Ritharrŋu/Wägilak, Ngandi, Wubuy, Ngalakgan, Rembarrnga and the everyday language of Ngukurr, Kriol. Mangarrayi and Warndarrang haven't been include yet, but there is a wonderful plants and animals book on Mangarrayi if you want to find out more: 

Roberts, Jessie Garalnganyjak, Sheila Yanybarrak Conway, Rita Morgan, Amy Dirn.gayg, Splinter Harris, Edna Burrbanja Farrar, Fay Banjanja Roberts, Francesca Merlan, Eugenie Collyer, Taegan Calnan and Glenn Wightman (2011). Mangarrayi and Yangman Plants and Animals: Aboriginal Biocultural Knowledge from Elsey and the Roper River, North Australia. Australia: Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport. Australia: Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport.

Currently Ngukurr Language Centre and Glenn Wightman (NT Government) are working on an Alawa, Marra and Warndarrang plants and animals book which will be published soon. Ngukurr Language Centre also has many fantastic books, recordings and learning resources for all the languages of Ngukurr. Please come and visit if you want to learn more.