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The two comments from the Jimmy brothers show different facets of local knowledge at
Kowanyama. One is deference to the „old people‟ in the face of ignorance and uncertainty,
the other is knowledge of explanations generated elsewhere, in this case global warming and
climate change. Correlations and causes can be observed at different scales, and the
„Working Knowledge‟ of the men associated with Oriners is able to answer some questions
but not others.
The combination of local observations and local understandings with an awareness of how
the wider world explains such observations is evident from two previously cited passages
from interviews with Colin Hughes and Michael Ross (2.2.1). Colin suggested that if it rains
early in one location, the rain seems to fall again on that location later in the year. He was
aware that it was likely to be considered „an old wives tale‟ but it seemed to accord with his
own observations, as well as what older Indigenous people were likely to say. Michael Ross
attributed the same phenomenon to „story water‟, before going on to comment further about
the status of his own ideas:
Michael Ross: Well, I don‟t know scientific, but I think there is some connection there.
That‟s my belief that there is a connection there.
Marcus Barber: That‟s fine, I‟m not testing you, I‟m just asking and we are putting together
all the knowledge and ideas that people have. I‟m interested in everything.
Michael Ross: Koolburra and Kalinga [two stations east of Oriners]. There are running
springs up there, down on all that country, walking [flowing] through. „Bang bang‟- rain rain.
Rain. It‟s [a] theory, you know? [laughs]
Marcus Barber: That‟s fine, I‟m happy with theory!
Michael Ross [still chuckling]: I‟m glad you‟ll be happy. In my way of thinking it is some sort
of spiritual connection with the ground and the rain that draws the rain there. But um, you
don‟t need to know that one!
Marcus Barber: No, that‟s alright, you can think of theories! That is part of what knowledge
is. It‟s about having the idea and thinking about what you‟ve seen that supports that idea.
That‟s what science is- they have an idea, then they go out and see what happens, see if
that idea is true or wrong.
Based on repeated observations, both Colin and Michael suggestthat there seems to be a
connection between water on the ground and water in the sky. Based on an Indigenous
worldview (summarised by Strang in 1.5.3), Michael goes on to suggest a possible cause.
This is that „story water‟, water which is associated with ancestral powers in the landscape,
may be drawing rain from the sky. Taking the idea one step further, this could be seen as
that water ensuring its continued survival, replenishing itself by directing the rain to fall in
particular ways. However both men show their awareness of how the wider world, particularly
the scientific world, might regard such observations. Colin notes that it could be called „an old
wives tale‟ and Michael states that he does not purport to know about science, that his idea
is „theory‟. Nevertheless it also demonstrates the ability to observe closely, and to develop
explanations for those observations, a characteristic of the sciences. Part 3 will provide a
scientific perspective about Oriners from one of the authors and a working scientist in the
catchment, Jeff Shellberg.
Working Knowledge at Oriners Station, Cape York
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