Indigenous fish traps and the Baaka

Sarah Martin
Sarah is a heritage professional and researcher who specialises in Indigenous histories of semi-arid New South Wales. Her expertise combines archaeology, archival records, and oral history to create multi-layered narratives. She explores topics such as black earth mounds on the Murrumbidgee riverine plain, Indigenous methods of resource management, and stone tool technology. Recently, Sarah has been studying how artists and storytellers communicate relationships with landscapes and water in response to water over-allocation for irrigation and its impact on Indigenous communities.

Badger Bates
Badger Bates, born in 1947 on the Baaka (Darling River) at Wilcannia, grew up under the guidance of his extended family and his grandmother, Granny Moysey. Together, they explored the country and learned about the language, history and culture of the Barkandji people. After serving as a National Parks Aboriginal Sites Officer for 21 years, Bates became a full-time artist, cultural heritage consultant and environmental activist. His art includes linocut printing, wood, emu egg and stone carving, and metalwork, reflecting his connection to Country and the intricate relationships between people, Country, and the Baaka.