Sea Country

The Great Barrier Reef, one of the world's most iconic natural wonders, has a history that extends back thousands of years, long before it became submerged beneath the waters. This history is deeply intertwined with the lives of the First Nations People who inhabited the region for countless generations - the Saltwater People.

First Nations Connection

The Great Barrier Reef began forming around 20 million years ago during the Miocene epoch. As the sea levels rose and fell over millennia, the reef's structure evolved into its current form. However, well before the reef emerged, the land on which it now stands was part of the Australian continent, connected to the mainland.

First Nations People have lived in Australia for at least 65,000 years, making them one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth. The Great Barrier Reef region around Townsville and Palm Island, to which John Brewer Reef belongs and where MOUA’s Coral Greenhouse and Ocean Sentinels installations are located, was home to several First Nations groups including the Nyawaygi, Gugu-Badhun, Bindal, Wulgurukaba, and Manbarra. Each group had its unique language, customs, and spiritual beliefs, but they all shared a deep connection with the land and sea.

Before the region became submerged by rising sea levels around 9,000 years ago, the First Nations People lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. They had an intimate understanding of the diverse ecosystems, including rainforests, mangroves, and coastal areas, that covered the land before the reef was formed.

Their survival relied on a profound knowledge of the environment, understanding the seasons, and the behaviour of plants and animals. They skilfully used a wide variety of tools, such as spears, boomerangs, and nets, to hunt animals and catch fish.

Spiritual & Cultural Significance

The land and sea held significant spiritual and cultural importance for First Nations communities. They believed that the landscape was shaped by their ancestral beings during the Dreaming, a period when the world was formed, and the laws and traditions of First Nations society were established.

Specific locations, such as natural formations, freshwater springs, and rock art sites, were regarded as sacred and served as important gathering places for ceremonies and storytelling. The reef itself held spiritual significance as a living entity that needed to be cared for and protected.

First Nations People interacted with the Great Barrier Reef for thousands of years before it became submerged. They had an intricate knowledge of the reef's marine life and coastal resources, which they used for sustenance and trade. The reef offered a diverse array of seafood, including fish, crustaceans, and shellfish, which were an essential part of their diet.

First Nations communities also engaged in trade with neighbouring groups, exchanging goods and knowledge, including stories about the Dreaming and cultural practices.

Modern Challenges & Preservation

The European exploration of the Great Barrier Reef began in the 17th century when Dutch and British navigators encountered the coastline of eastern Australia. As European settlement increased over the following centuries, the lives of First Nations People were dramatically impacted. Dispossession, violence, and diseases brought by the newcomers resulted in significant disruptions to their traditional way of life.

Today, the Great Barrier Reef faces various threats, including climate change, coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and pollution. These challenges not only endanger the reef's biodiversity but also impact the coastal communities, including some First Nations groups, who rely on the reef for their cultural and economic survival.

In recent times, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of indigenous knowledge in reef management and conservation efforts. Collaborative projects involving First Nations communities aim to combine traditional ecological knowledge with modern science to preserve and protect this extraordinary natural treasure.