THE ancient stories and traditions of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji will be preserved for future generations thanks to an $11,000 federal grant awarded to the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation.

Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said the project – Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bama  Bloomfield Track Cultural Heritage Stories – received the funding through the Australian Government’s $1.4 million Community Heritage and Icons Grants Programme.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the traditional stories and history of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area that lies between Cape Tribulation and the Bloomfield River,” he said.

“It has two main aims – firstly to record traditional owner stories for safekeeping, and secondly to create videos, for visitors, of the local elders speaking about their country.”

The Stories project was one of 30 from around Australia to receive funding under the $1.4 million Community Heritage and Icons Grants Programme. 

Mr Entsch said: “The project will help promote wider community awareness of one of the 103 places listed on Australia’s National Heritage List.

“It also provides an opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate a local place of historic, national significance.”

Further information about Community Heritage and Icons Grants is available at:

www.environment.gov.au/community-heritage-icons-grants