Ngururrpa Indigenous Protected Area facts for kids

The Ngururrpa Indigenous Protected Area (or Ngururrpa IPA) is a special place in Western Australia. It covers a huge area of 29,000 square kilometers. This land is found in the Great Sandy Desert, which is part of the Pilbara region. This protected area was officially recognized in October 2020. It includes all the land that the Ngururrpa people were recognized as having traditional ownership over in 2007.

Caring for Country: The Ngururrpa People

The Ngururrpa land is home to several Aboriginal language groups. These include the Walmajarri, Wangkatjunga, Ngarti, and Kukatja peoples. They call their homeland "Ngururrpa," which means "our country in the middle." These groups are the recognized traditional owners of this land.

For a long time, the Ngururrpa people lived a traditional way of life here. This continued until about the 1950s. Some older people still remember when they first saw white people. This area was left mostly untouched compared to other places. This was because the land was not good for European farm animals. Also, there are no mines in the area.

Because there are no mines or big farms, there are not many jobs in the area. However, creating the Ngururrpa IPA has helped. It has created important jobs for rangers. These rangers work to protect their traditional lands. In May 2021, a special ceremony was held to celebrate the IPA. It took place in the same spot where the native title was first officially announced.

Where is Ngururrpa IPA?

This large protected area covers 29,000 square kilometers. It is located in the far eastern part of the Pilbara region. This area is deep within the Great Sandy Desert. The closest community to Ngururrpa is Balgo.

No one lives permanently in the Ngururrpa IPA. There are a few small outstations here. You can only reach these places by four-wheel-drive vehicles. The landscape includes huge sandplains and dunefields. It also has mountain ranges and flat-topped mesas. You can find ephemeral lakes (lakes that dry up), claypans, and seasonal swamps. The rangers are now doing more cultural burning. This practice helps the environment. It makes the land better for all the plants and animals that live there.

Plants and Animals of Ngururrpa

The sandy plains in Ngururrpa are home to many plants. You can find different types of acacia shrubs and spinifex grasses. On areas with red, rocky soil, you might see the Acacia hilliana. The land also provides important Bush tucker. This includes the bush potato, which is a food source.

Ngururrpa is a home for many animals, including some Threatened species. These include the bilby (Macrotis lagotis), which is a small marsupial. You might also find the great desert skink (Egernia kintorei). The mysterious marsupial mole (Notoryctes sp.) also lives here. Another special animal is the brush-tailed mulgara. The critically endangered night parrot also makes its home in this protected area.

Ancient Heritage

The Ngururrpa area holds very old secrets. Some of the earliest signs of humans living in Australia are found here. Ancient creeks used to flow east into swamps. These areas were perfect for hunting and gathering food. There was also plenty of wood for shelters and tools.

You can find rock engravings in the IPA. These ancient artworks are thought to be around 12,000 years old. The Ngururrpa rangers continue to use their traditional knowledge, known as Tjukurrpa, to care for their country.

The creation of the Ngururrpa IPA is very important. It makes sure that enough money is available. This funding helps to protect both the amazing cultural history and the natural environment of the area.