Tyá Dynevor joins CoTS

Tyá Dynevor is a proud Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander mixed-race woman; born on Dharawal Country, Campbelltown, Greater Western Sydney but had grown up between Darwin, Larrakia Country and Cairns, Gimuy-walubara Yidinji and Yirrganydji country with her mother. Her mother’s people are the Gudjal people (Charters Towers); Gurindji people (Northern Territory) and the Gumuligal of Wagedagam peoples from Mabuiag Island and her father’s people are from the Kullili tribe (Thargomindah).

Currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Zoology and Ecology at JCU, she has recently commenced a Research Assistant role on the Crown of Thorns (CoTS) project. Tyá is grateful to Dr Vincent Backhaus, A/Prof Felecia Watkins-Lui and Prof Stewart Lockie for this opportunity to understand and develop meaningful conservations and engagement with Traditional Owners on the CoTS research project.

Last year, Tyá attended the NAIDOC Executive Breakfast. She explained what it meant to her. “The Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! NAIDOC theme really resonated with me on a personal level because I felt pride and resilience within myself and my Ancestry. From being a direct descendent from the Gurindji Peoples, participating in The Wave Hill “walk off” in 2009 to living on Waiben Island, also known as “Thursday Island”, for one and a half years in 2002 with my mother.”

“The three presenters tackled recurring issues that impact our People and Communities in these different campaigns: Convoy to Gurindji, ‘Our Island Our Home’ and the Wangan and Jagalingou (W&J) Family Council. They all share this common message: the truly unfortunate and devastating influences made up by western mindsets and cultural frameworks has significantly impacted and will continue to impact the natural world of our planet Earth. There is an urgent need for change and to return to our traditional practices and ways of living but in a more modern yet sustainable approach.”

Tyá loves 2023 NAIDOC theme “For Our Elders”. She feels this will relate to their work on the CoTS research project because it is an opportunity to allow the Elders in all the coastal communities across Queensland to connect with their research, engage with Western Science Practices and for Institutions to respect and acknowledge the history and traditional knowledge from the Traditional Owners (Custodians).

She believes the theme: “For Our Elders” as an opportunity to learn from our Elders; learning to appreciate and share their stories, knowledge, songlines, dreamings, struggles and their mission for positive change. “Our Elders and Senior Lore People teach and view education from a holistic perspective between two Worlds: Western and Indigenous. This can encourage institutions to implement the integration of Traditional Knowledge and Western scientific practices and concepts, by finding the “middle ground” ideologies in science”.

Tyá aims to continue to integrate her tertiary education with her traditional knowledge to further understand what protecting and preserving country, culture and spirituality looks like. She hopes this will include; bettering their lifestyles through living more sustainably, striving for positive social implications and improving education systems and institutions.