Manuwuri T Forester Australian Marine Sciences Association 2022

Manuwuri T Forester

Manuwuri Traceylee Forester Lama Lama Traditional Owner of the Great Barrier Reef and Indigenous Partnerships Coordinator – Australian Institute of Marine Science As a young person I was part of the stolen generation and then in my later teens, my Lama Lama family was looking for our branch of the family and came to visit with us. This visit was the start of my transformation of being a 3rd Stolen Generation person into a powerful Lama Lama woman. On my Mother’s side, I am Lama Lama from Port Stewart – Cape York and my father is of the Nywaigi People of the Ingham area. I have a wonderful husband, four beautiful children and 2 grandchildren. They are the reason why I get out of bed daily and do the work that I do - looking after and caring for country. A highlight of my life was becoming a Lama Lama Land Trust Director and also receiving my language name. I have spent most of my working life, assisting Indigenous People with the management of their land and sea countries, advocating and adding my voice, to that of our first nation’s people. I currently work for the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), as an Indigenous Partnerships Coordinator. I assist in the building of partnerships between AIMS and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Northern Australia, particularly in regard to the collaboration of Western Science and Traditional Owner Science. I am passionate about Traditional People having the primacy voice in looking after, caring for and managing their own Land and Sea Estates. I have engaged in various leadership, advisory roles and I lend my voice in assisting our mob to share our knowledge, experience and the insight of our view of the natural environment with others.