INDIGENOUS WORKING GROUP COMMITTEE
Doc is recognised as a Senior Saltwater Knowledge Holder/Cultural Custodian/Traditional Owner of the Esperance Tjaltjraak (Wudjari) people, most eastern of the 14 tribes of the Noongar Nation located in the south east of WA, around the Esperance region. He learnt all his skills from the old Wudjari people who sat around campfires and shared their stories. Doc has been actively involved with Aboriginal Affairs for nearly 50 years having leadership roles at the local, regional, State, National and International levels. Doc was the 1st Aboriginal Shire Councillor elected to the Shire of Esperance, and has numerous leadership roles, former President of the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA (ALSWA), former Chair of the Aboriginal Lands Trust (ALT) and the former Chair of the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC) and many others leadership roles at the local, regional, State, National and International levels.
Having spent my entire life in the Esperance area, I have a strong connection to, and knowledge of, Wudjari Tjaltjraak Culture and Country and have benefitted from opportunities to learn culture and language from my Senior Knowledge Holders, which I've shared and continue to share, with the next generation of Wudjari’s and collaborators who enable our community to ensure our Wudjari knowledge is in the forefront of any research, planning, monitoring and the application of new technology. I am a recognised Cultural educator, working with the Tjaltjraak Rangers, some of whom are grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the Senior Knowledge Holders who started the Native Title claim. As a Senior Cultural Advisor and Knowledge Holder, I am a respected member within my community and Cultural educator. I am frequently invited to lead and co-design culturally sensitive research for a whole range of Researchers from State, National and International bodies. I am also invited to speak at important cultural events and am a key member of the planning team and Community Reference Committee for the newly proposed South Coast Marine and Terrestrial Park. In the early 1994, I was chosen by the Senior Cultural Knowledge Holders, to lead on their behalf the Esperance Wudjari Tjaltjraak Nyungar Native Title claim over the wider Esperance area and finally seeing their wishes come true on the 14 March 2014.
Uncle Doc Reynolds
Co-Chairs of the Indigenous Working Group
Chels Marshall
Co-Chairs of the Indigenous Working Group
Jodi Edwards
Co-Chairs of the Indigenous Working Group